> <c„ ^ 









^^'%,. 



'- ^^ 



,A 



^/ --^ 



O 'S'^ ,. s^ aCJ -^ 






\v \' 



.^" ^^_ 







^^^"V c^"* ^.^ 




^-..<^- 






W* '^^^■'^-^^ '-life; <.^^ 



'00 




c^-^. 















>^ o' '. 



.•V 







,0o 






,0 



r,^^' 



00 
oH -7-, 



■vi 



/. 




















" ^ ^^ 



,V 



^"{►^ 



"^z. Ci^' 







.'^' 










.V" 






^ ^ f ^-> ^ tj ft •> ^^ , I ft ^^ 

.T> t " <' « , 'o. rO s ° * -. <?* 



Q< „ fry 



'%. 












O 0^ 







v>n- 



,x^^ 



^*^ c"^ 









<^ " " • 



r,\ 









00 



>0 o^ 






,-0- N° ,,, *, ' 



'•^, <•':.• 



,'^ 















>},% ^ M C ^ '-^_ 









"^. c^^ 






<''• v'' !>.• k, y ' ^Nj-l-^ « J^ 



?,^ *. 



?^<i' 



-x^^ 






A\ ; O N O- „ 11- -J. I, ■ » , . 



,-•> * ^ " Kc -r. <%> ' 



,-1 -r 



^0 ^. 







o-^ -TV 










.- > 










M' \-4^' 



x^ % '.©1 



/\ 



^^ .-^'■«.''o. 



- - -^A V* : ^^-^^^^ 

\0 O- -■ •y? 







■x^ 













00\.v 



o5 'O. 



0- 





















?■ - ^ \^% ■*-!=• 



^\^ ^*~^ '">^. 
^ >■ ^ 



m^: "^-v^^^ ;^^ 



& 




_v 


■■■f ■'( -'s 


o ■ 


''■■■•/ 


.- N^' 


'''^^ ^ 




/\. 


., % 




\' ^■•' 


7*sl''' 




* -y^ 




...^^^ 


,;^ 


■^ - 


'%, 


° Vj 


f^* 







^^M. 



.^'' 








^\.n'^ 



,0 O^ 



OO' 









%.^' 







.■Jy" c "'^ -^ « 'b., 

























'■':,.. <f 



















c ^-^ 



'^2. <> 






* , 0-. 






CO' 



bo' , 






,0 o 











<^. .vV 



'4: ^^-^^ 














A-^- 















.•o 






-0- 






4 



.-^ 



^Ci o"^ » (^Bffi^'" ^ ^ > 



\V ^c^ ', 







■K.^ 



„\ 



, .^^' /'^ °^W 

rP ■ V ' ^ I, * . ^^ .-i* > — * ^ ° 



'/ 



^>ffe'^' 










o. 






<.^r^0 




xO°.. '^^MW' ,H -r,, '•:^^.^\^: ,0 c 



.-^^ 



.-^^ - 










o^ -^^ 






^ ■^^.. 









.0 0^ 







o.^' 




OO 



.^^ '^-.. ', 






^ ° oS -n^ ' 









xV <A. 



iSi/4 


















^'^ X^'^'s-, V*-^^°'° '0^ 




eP^ oLW" ^^ 







,0 o. 










G^^vS^/^ 



Oi^e Ciod 



O^e Sel^oo 




Oi^e Qou^try 



Oqe Ia9§ua9e 






Vol. I, No. 1. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, February, 1898. 



50c PER Year 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ABIGAIL FREE 
SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN 

FOR 1S9M898. 



TO-DAY we look forward and our gaze is 
bright with liope and glad with expectancy. 
The past year has been crowded witli plentiful 
success such as the dear Lord onlj^ knows how to 
award. 

It is with pleasure combined with gratitude 
that we appear again before the public to give an 
account of what has been done at the Abigail 
Free School and Kindergarten, the good that has 
been accomplished " In His Name." 

The work confided to us is not a tentative 
undertakingjsustained by highly colored theories. 
but is of the most sternly practictil kind, support- 
ed by uncontrovertable facts of approval and 
command, that make it a solid structure which 
will stand in its results unwavering and solid 
amidst the sands and floods of time. '-Suffer 
little cliildren to come unto me and forbid, them 
not." 

- The great educators of the world have taken up 
this plea and have made it the cry around which 
they have rallied the practical sympathies of their 
contemporaries. 

The great '• Felix " of France said : " Giue ine 
the mind of a child until he is seven ijears old and 
you can have him the rest of Jiis life." 

What would our race be without domestic 
education in early childhood, what would it be 
without structural moral formation of character- 
traits during the years of infancy ? Where are 
the waifs of our streets of the last generation ? 
The answers to these questions can be easily 
found, we will not burthen the reader with tliem 
on this occasion. 

Suffice it to saj^, that our work is carried on 
upou the basis of unselfishiiegs, aiming for the 



future, laying the foundations for results which 
some of us tliat are engaged in it will hardly live 
to witness. 

The Abigail Free School and Kindergarten is a 
work of ''hope," a blessed hope, dedicated to God 
and to the country which we love best next to 
Him. 

The little child, in the most tender period of its 
existence, through cruel and unsympathetic 
circumstances deprived of a mother's or father's 
due and proper care, to instil in him the moral 
principles making up a domestic education, is our 
object ; to pave for him a way, preparing him for 
the sterner duties of life which await him during 
his curriculum of the public school is one of our 
ends. 

The Master who has inspired our zeal and who 
is the witness of our efforts has abundantly 
blessed us during this last year by making us 
useful in His way to many of His little ones. 

Yet we call with unqualified regret the attention 
of our readers to the demise of our dear friend and 
fellow-laborer Dr. Ernst F. Hofmann who after a 
short illness died on March 11th, 1897. 

•' Blessed are the dead, luhich die in the Lord,'' 
. .' . . that they may rest from their labors; 
and their tvorJxS do follow them." 

His career of unflagging labor and zeal for 
God's poor children is at an end, he is enjoying 
his well earned reward. 

His good works have followed him, they are 
his living monuments. 

He has left behind him among the children of 
the School tokens of his charitable zeal that will 
never be obliterated from their hearts. 

A large delegation of little ones attended his 
funeral, they Avere genuine mourners. 

This has been the cloud in our otherwise pros- 
i:)erous and happy year. 

We again thank our patrons for their punctual- 
ity in their generous coutributioup during the 



The Abigail 



past year, we thank our new patrons who have 
lately come into the work. 

We also make the offering of this our annual 
report an opportunity to appeal to the thinking 
reader, to the patriotic and charitably inclined 
reader, to join us with their sympathy and 
approval ; Ave ask them like our patrons to con- 
sider it their work and help us with heart and 
with hand. 

"Bread cast upon the waters" in its truest 
meaning will be the form by which He will 
appreciate the efforts made bj^ our patrons and 
friends in the work. 

We submit this report to your careful reading 
with the hope that you will co-ogerate with us in 
practically preparing a report for the next year. 

For God and Country in its fullest accep- 
tation of the term, is still our motto. 

Respectfully submitted 

C. PR. DEVARE, 
J. S. HuYLER, SeGretary. 

President. 



REPORT OP TREASURER. 



Income. Expenditures. 

January * $318.23 §414-69 

February 4S3.00 403.21 

March 325.00 363. Si 

April 354-00 365.08 

May 30S.50 328.89 

June 394-';o 313-82 

July : 373-50 351-45 

August 301.65 333-93 

September 2S0.00 322. iS 

October 419-25 364.12 

November 3S0.75 363.87 

December 537-35 522.56 

$4,475.73 !j4447-6i 
4,447,61 

Balance on hand January ist, iSg8 $28.12 



List of Cash Contp>ibutors During the Year. 



Name o£ Contributor. Arat. 

J. S. Huyler $2,467.00 

S. S. Swain 63S.11 

Wm. Baldwin 125.03 

A. W. Dennett 120.00 

E. J. Brady 88.12 

Mr. & Mrs. H. B. Smith 45.00 

Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Childs 30.00 

Entertainment 20S.10 

C. Pr. Devare 212.00 

Wm. F. Havemeyer. . . . 50.00 

S. V. Close 25.00 

Ed. Stallknecht 25 00 

Rev. L Klopsch Ph. D. 25.00 

B. F. De Klyn 25.00 

C. L. Tiffany 20.00 

Robt. M. Gallaway 20,00 

Chas. J. Coulter 20.00 

Mrs. J. Wasson 10,00 



Name ot Contributor. Amt. 

A. H. Scribner $5.00 

Mattelage cS: Son 5.00 

Frank H. Scott 5.00 

Century Pub. Co 

J. Brinston White .. .. 5.00 

SherA'in, William Co 5.00 

Louis De Yonge & Co 5.00 

H. Cauchois 2.00 

J. H. MacDonald 2.00 

G. Eppins & Son 2.00 

John Cutting & Co 2.00 

F. W.Fogg 2,00 

Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Bostwick 2.00 

Miss Kate Mahone 2.00 

Miss Ruth Smith 2.00 

J. S. Benheimer & Co 2.00 

Cleveland Faucet Co 2.00 

Loeb & Schoenleld 2.00 



Mrs. F. Swaim Balto. . - 

E. W. Bennett 

N. Nielsen 

James McCreery iS: Co. . 

Clarence Whitman 

C' Bruno & Son 

Jacob Ruppert 

H. li. Palmer ' 

Edwin J. Gillies 

Mrs. Geo. Ehret 

Charles Henry 

Mrs. E. S. Smith 

Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Taylor 

Lavake Brett & Co 

Bernheimer & Schmidt. . 

B. Fisher & Son 

Geo, Schirmer 

Wm. Brette 

Mr. Waldo 

C. R. Rogers 

Beltaire Lurch & Co ... . 
Goldfarb, Fishel l% Co.. 
Allisson & Thompson . . . 

Robt. Reid 

Chas, F. Nickle 

James Healy & Son 

E. M. Potter. 

J. Bacharach 

Wm. Heuston 

Mr. Stokes 

Ed. Nicholson 

Leonard & Philips 

G. D &M. Delanney&Co 

Mr. & Mrs. Levy 

Pierce Bros. & Co 

H. Harburger 

Frank E. Albinger 

II. Trappen 

J. Klausen 

J. Bender 

J, W. Crossley 

H. B. Quaintance 

Isaac Levy 

Louis H. Orr 

Thos. Walker 

C. Bror 

Richard George 

J. B. Gruman 

Cash anonymous con 



10.00 Max Green 2. 00 

1200 Maurice Wolfer 2.00 

12.00 A. S. Rosenthal & Co 2.00 

10.00 J. n. Loewenstein 2.00 

10.00 J. M. McCormick 2.00 

10.00 Mrs. A, Garfinkle 2.00 

10.00 Y. Woyeeno & Co 2 00 

ro.oo Jacobs Bros 2.00 

10.00 A. H. Brummell 2.00 

10.00 J. H. Huff 100 

10.00 Mr- Voss 1. 00 

S.oo Schwarz Bros. & Co 100 

8.00 Mr. Morley - i.oo 

5.00 R. Stuzke , 1.00 

5 00 Benneche Bros. . . .' i.oo 

5.00 L. Isenberger i.oo 

5,00 Gardam & Son I.oo- 

i.oo Bartlett B. Page i.oo 

I "00 L. A. Jonas I.oo 

I.oo I.I.Leonard i.oo 

I.oo I.Berliner i.oo 

I.oo L. Bernheim & Co i.oo 

I 00 G. B. Judson i.oo 

I.oo Joseph Ayoob 50 

I.oo Raphaim & Mulhennie 50 

I.oo David Biskinty & Co 50' 

■1.00 E. M. Aboumbman. . . , 50 

I.oo Drummon & Broach 50 

I.oo S. Schwarz & Bros 50 

1,00 N. A. Merritt 50 

I.oo Silverman & Schorr 50 

I.oo Sullen & Baab 50 

I.oo F. Bihani 30 

I.oo Throop Ave. Mission 

I.oo New Brunswick 30 

1.00 A. K. Robbins 50 

1 .00 F. Heyman 50 

I.oo C.Myers 25 

I.oo Master Fred Smith.... .. . .25 

I.oo J. H. Steinbrink 25 

I.oo Cohen & Finn 25 

I.oo A, H. Briggs 25 

I.oo Simmer & Sitt 25 

I.oo J. N. Maloof 25 

I.oo S. Cahib 25 

I.oo PI. Marquis & Co I.oo 

I 00 Mr. Debevoise i.oo 

I.oo C.H.Wetzel i.oo 

tributions 46.30 

14,475-73 



LIST OF FRIENDS WHO CONTRIBUTED 
OTHERWISE THAN IN CASH. 

J. A. Dahn, Brooklyn, 31,200 butter-rolls, G. A. 
Twele, Smith Farm Dairy, 6,750 quarts of milk. 
Andrews School Furniture Co., blackboards and 
drawing materials. Horlick's Food Co., Racine, 
Wis., baby food. E. Childs, 1 large house flag. 
J! W. Schermerhorn & Co., lot of Kindergarten 
material. Longman & Martinez, 50 lbs. white 
lead. Austin Nichols & Co., 100 lbs. sugar. B. 
T. Babbitt, 1 box of soap, 1 can baking powder. 
F. W. Devoe & C. T. Reynolds Co., 3 
cans white lead. The Lucas Brown Co., 1 m. 
letterheads and envelopes. Horseman & Co., 1 
bundle dolls. Annie McCarthy, embroidery 



The Abigail 



yarns and sewing utensils. J. H. Bertin 1 quart 
mucilage. Annin & Co., lot of small flags. 
Selchow & Richter, 1 box assorted toys. S. W. 
Shamberg, 1 box of doll's dresses. P. L. Koempel, 
1 box assorted toys. R. Marsh, S. S. literature 
and supplies for the year. Huyler's 120 lbs. 
candy. H. K. Wampole & Co., Philadelphia, 2 
cases cod-liver oil. Stephen H. Bartlett, Boston, 
25 lbs. cocoa., Coates Thread Co., 20 doz. spools 
threads. Coffin Altemus & Co., jDiece of muslin. 
Cowperthwait & Co., 1 desk. Holbrook Soap 
Co., 1 box of soap, 1 box of Soap powder. 
Pepper & Co., 3 lbs. candy. American Biscuit 
Co., 1 box crackers. Everitt Haney &Co., 1 piece 
of muslin. Ehrich Bros., 1 piece of muslin. Geo. 
Kornahrens, 1 hamper. Tower Mfg. Co., lot of 
stationery and slates. J, Barron & Co., 1 doz. 
scrub brushes. G. L. Pencil & Co., 1}( lbs. tea. 
Anonymous, 1 flute. Alsberg & Pfeiffer, 10 lbs. 
paint, W. Grandeman, 10 lbs. nuts. Mr. Wichman, 
lot of apples. Geo. L. Ayres & Co., 20 lbs. nuts. 

A. p. Fuller & Co., 1 box apples. Chas. Weber 
& Son., 1 basket apples. Krone Bros., 2 doz. 
oranges. J. B. Maxtield & Co., 25 oranges. 
McCormick Hubts & Co., 1 box oranges. Mr. 
Lohman, 1 box raisins. Allen, Morse & Opdyke 
1 box crackers. Pierce & Co., 20 lbs. nuts. John 
Nix & Co., 1 barrel of apples. Fred Van Dohrei:; 
1 case of eggs. Koenig & Schuster, 1 case pan- 
cake flour, 10 lbs. nuts. Casper Mahr & Co., 1 
pair of chickens. Louis De Groff, & Son, 1 box 
crackers. Hoehn & Mayer, 15 lb. turkey. John 

B. Laing & Co., 8 lb. turkey. John Corell & Co., 
8 lb. turkey. American Fruit Packing Co., large 
lot of assorted fruits. A. G. Reed, 10 lbs. butter. 
N. Y. Pie Baking Co., 10 large pies. 



It is with great pleasure that I submit the 
annual report of the department Avhich is under 
my immediate charge. When in October of last 
year we submitted our report to the State Board of 
Charities we had a deficit of $59.68, to report in 
our treasury. During the last two months of the 
past year we have not only been able to wipe this 
deficiency out but besides taking care of the 
current bills as they were presented. I am able 
to present a balance of $28.12 in our favor. 

Since our report to the State Board of Charities 
we have procured the service of an accomialished 
lady solicitor, to whose untiring efforts is due 
the increase of our membership of patrons and 
the present state of our treasury. 

We thank our patrons for their kind responses 
to the appeals made by our lady solicitor, we also 
ask them to continue their kind patronage. 

Those of our kind patrons who have furnished 
their names will find themselves represented on 
our list, those who remain anonymous will kindly 
accept our thanks in the same measure. 



Necessity last siiTmmer compelled "us to engage 
in an entertainmfent given ih aid of the school 
fund. Those of our friends who patronized us 
on that occasion will agree with us upon the 
excellent caste of the entertainment. 

We iaire however averse to this method of coming 
before the public and have chosen a better and a 
more business like way to have our interests 
represented. 

Asking our friends to help us in our work and 
enable us if possible to buy a property for the 
school insuring it a permanent abode. 

' ■ 'I am most respectfully yburs 

J. V. DENNETT, 
Treasurer. 

REPORT OF DISPENSARY. 



One hundred and fifty-three children have 
been successfully treated during the year 
for minor ailments common to children. 

This department has been practically closed 
during the time dating from dear Doctor Hof- 
mann's death in March until Dr. Joseph E. 
Messenger's kindly assuming control in October. 

We can not thank Dr. Messenger enough for 
the energetic manner in which he has taken hold 
of the management of this important department 
of the work. 

We wish under this head to cordially thank 
Messrs. Henry K. Wampole & Co., Philadelphia, 
for their unstinted donations of their prepared 
cod-liver oil . 

The children like it, they love the taste of it, it 
looks good to them, it has the right appearance 
to the child's mind and it invariably cures their 
colds. 

We also wish to thank Horlick's Food Co., 
Racine, Wis., for their supply of baby's food 
sent to us, which has been of great benefit to 
many little ones. 

Resjpectfully submitted 

BY THE INFIRMARIAN. 



REPORT OP THE GENERAL MANAGER 
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. 



THE year just closed was marked throughout 
by arduous and unceasing labor crowned 
with the success, such as He warrants to those, 
who rest in Him for their awards and appreci- 
ation. ?■ 

We have notwithstanding our sorely taxed 
space and conveniences increased our attendance. 
During the months of June; July and August we 
were obliged to refuse many children for the 
above reason.— Cojifniitsrf on Gth page. 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 



ORGAN OF THE 



104 SULLIVAN STREET, 

BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN. CITY OF NEW YORK. 



Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley who since last October 
represents the Abigail Free School and Kinder- 
garten in outside work has kindly undertaken to 
represent this paper in a capacity as business or 
advertizing manager ; we heartily recommend 
her to ovir readers and patrons. 



SAVE THE CHILDEEN. 



C. Pr. DEVARE, Editor. Mrs. J. V, DENNETT, Assisting Editor. 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, goc Per Year. s cents Per Copy • 



All Communications and Subscriptions, etc., please send to the 
Kdltor, 101 Sullivan Street, Borough ol Manliattan, X. Y. City. 



' Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not.""Luke XVIll., i6. 



New York, February 1st, 1898. 



EDITORIAL. 



At the annual meeting of the Abigail Free 
School and Kindergarten held at the residence 
of Mrs. J. V. Dennett, it was resolved and agreed 
to get up a paper to be published monthly, in the 
columns of which the interests of the School 
should be properly treated and brought to the 
notice of a larger circle of friends than our 
present method of representation commands. 

The management will take exceeding pains to 
make '• The Abigail," which is the name of our 
venture an interesting collection of i-eadable facts 
touching upon the cause represented in our work. 

As the work of the Abigail Free School and 
Kindergarten is unique and thoroughly consist- 
ent in its purpose, so shall "The Abigail" 
monthly be unique and consistently so in the 
advocacy and developing of its cause. 



In this our first number we have inserted our 
annual report, for reasons of economy as well a§ 
of fitness ; our readers will please pardon us for 
taking up with it so much space. 

We promise in future issues to fill up space so 
preempted with fresh, instructive and interesting 
matter. 

We will also have space reserved for advertise- 
ments which we ask our kindly disposed friends 
to utilize. 



THE foundation for the prosperity of a nation 
lies in the pai-ental tuition of the child. 
The child needs a guide before it has developed 
into reason, this guide is generally supplied by 
the father, more often by the mother, and the 
process is called " domestic education." 
Whence come the recruits to our criminal class- 
es ? After due reflection we come to the conclu- 
sion that in the great and vast majority of cases 
they are furnished by the children, who through 
no fault of their own, were deprived of an early 
domestic education. Thej^ have been developed 
into the age of reason without anj^thing to de- 
velop from, except what they have acquired and 
absorbed from early and continuous contact with 
the street as their studj' and their play ground. 

Their parents are either morally or physically 
incapable to attend to their training. It might 
be said that such cases are exceptional and can- 
not be relied upon to make up an average. . 

Anybody acquainted with our down-town tene- 
ment house districts will readily admit, that the 
average family for its support requires the work 
of the father and mother both, and with the 
addition often of the larger children. . 

Who and Avliat is responsible for such a con- 
dition of affairs it is not within the province of 
this article to outline. We have heard so much 
said about this, often to the prejudice of the 
victims, that we will leave to those who proclaim 
about it, the task to eradicate these evils. . 

We however know for sure that thousands of. 
children are growing up continually in New York, 
without the unconditionally necessary domestic 
education, with no other preparation for public 
school attendance than such as thej' are ready.to 
pick up from the street. : 

Schools, asylums, nurseries, kindergartens, 
call them what you like, should be opened and 
kept open the whole year around, where children 
from three to seven years of age should be 
h6used from early morning until the end of the 
working day. 

Such children should be. taught the ordinary 
lessons, which a child receives from its mother in 
a normal home. The children should be taught, 
that they are responsible to God for their conduct, 
they should be taught enough elementary lessons 
to awaken their little minds and prepare them 
for the reception of the heavier task at their 



The Abigail 



jDublic scliooi attendance, they sliould learn how 
to play and to amuse themselves. This of course 
requires work and self-abnegation on the part of 
those, who would take such task in hand ; but 
no doubt, consecrated men and women full of the 
love for the little ones, whom their Master loved ■ 
so dearly, could be found. 

This work should be done under strict unsee- 
tarian rules, no church denominational spirit 
should predominate. ISTew York with its multi- 
farious sectarian issues would be a poor field to 
carry on a work like this on denominational lines. 
The suspicion and mistrust of proselytism would 
immediately fasten itself to such institution aiid 
thereby hinder greatly its usefulness, if not 
cripple it entii-ely. What is needed for such work- 
is, strictly unselfish men and women ready to 
give up of their worldly goods for the Hasterand 
at the same time to do something for the salva-' 
tion and the advancement of their country, to 
Avhich nesxt to God they owe all they have and 
are. 

The Abigail Free School and Kindergarten is 
the practical result from, th# above reasoning. 
It represents an excellent chance for the thinking 
American reader to do something towards 
furthering the coming of God's kingdom. 

It is reform beginning at the right place, at the 
root; for the child is the future man. As the 
child, so the nation; it is something for Americans 
and patriots to ponder. 

Save the' children I' Save the child 1, 
' Tis our great commander's word; 
• Through the ranks of this stern life, 

Is the stirring watch-word heard. > 

Save! the children I , Save the child !, 
Shivering frames with naked feet. 

Sleet our gaze at every turn, , 
In the alley, court, and street. 

Save the children I Save the child I, 
Fold them iii the arms of love. 
' Hiasie to rescue ere they perish, ' 
' Tis the will of God above. 



But. whatever zeal a confidence in Christ's 
power ip,ay inspire to ward. this effort to save the 
" habitual " sinners, the dismantled and water- 
logged wu-ecks upon life's sea, Avisdom demands 
that, a thousandfold greater attention should be 
given to shaping the vessels yet in the shipj-ard 
awaitipg the moment for launching. 

We are .glad to see the convictions gaining 
groun.^. among our thinking people, that if we 
wish to/save the nation \ye must cpmmence at 
the tealderest years of its childhood.— Selected. . 



THE ABIGAIL. 



The name of the righteous shall be held in re- 
membrance, the wicked sjiall not. What more 
blessed and appropriate tiling to do than to eii- 
grave in tiie soft susceptible issue of young 
hearts the recollection of a most beloved woman- 
of God, after whom this humble but blessed 
School and Kindergarten was named and this 
paper called. She was so gentle, so quiet, so' un- 
obstrusive that being dead she yet speaketh in 
continually, increasing tones of love and assist- 
ance to tliose who knew her well and to multitudes 
that knew her not, but in a wayand manner that 
must be delightful to herself, honoring to her 
Master, and blessing to thousands that will rise- 
and call her blessed. What a sweet and symme- 
trical monument to her name and character. 
Jesus saj's: Inasmuch as ye have done unto the 
least of these my disciples ye have done it unto 
me.- Enter thou into the joy of the Lord. 

It is joyous to her,to us, — to Him, and tothein 
to see the work of the Abigail among a comnmn- 
ity that so needs just such an unselfish and 
un'denomhiational oasis in the midst of the desert, ■ 
that 'cheers brightens and blesses so - many who 
without it would be left to perish and die in. 
p(iverty,ignorance and disgrace; but who through 
its ^beneficence and benevolence become a bless- a 
ing and benefit to their families the community 
and the state. ■ . 

It is an honor and delight to be connected with " 
tlie earnest and true hearts and consecrated lives 
that are engaged for Him in this beautiful and 
blessed work of faith and labor of love. Oh if^ 
the people only knew what a joy and- gladness 
AVGuld be imparted to' them to visit this wonder- 
ful spot, and see and hear the dear children, 
(I have nevei' met their eqital) and witness the 
real joy that bubbles up from clean bodies andfull . 
stomach.s, and happy hearts, as they sing and:- 
shout and laugh and roll and tumble with over 
floAving delight. I would be so pleased if my 
friends would only let me iiitroduce them to my •:* 
beloved brother and sister Devare, who have 
given their lives to the more than successful and 
peculiar work in our metropolis, for by so doing! ' 
I am sure I would be adding to their happiness 
and usefulness. For years I have been associa- 
ted with them and know them only to love them ■ 
arid praise. The Abigail I believe is the simple 
work of the great Mother heart of God, the Holy 
Ghost, and I am. His and Thine, 

STEPHEN MERRITT. ' 



A subscription or an advertisement .will heljj 
the ..work. Mrs. Isahelle G.. Stanley will gladly,, 
receive anv offer in this connection. 



the Abigail 



REPOET OF THE GENERAL MANAGER 
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. 

(Continued from Page 3 ) 



We have kept open the whole year around in- 
cluding the hot summer months, but we doubt 
the advisability of keeping open the next summer. 

Eight years without any intermission at this 
work constantly in season and out of season, we 
feel that we need a rest, if not a change of air, 
and that we must have it to fit us for more and 
greater work. 

The outside work on boy's missions, which we 
for given good reasons suspended last year, we 
have not taken up during the year for same 
reasons, we feel that we have put in the time 
with better practical advantage to our home 
work. 

Our Kindergarten and Infant Department has 
been attended by 1,792 children ; the afternoon 
session by former pupils who now attend public 
school, were attended by 576 ; this does not 
represent an aggregate attendance, these figures 
stand for individual children who attended the 
school for terms varying in length. We have 
provided on an average about 110 children with a 
luncheon daily. 

Ninety-eight Praise Meetings for boys and 
girls have been held during the year. These 
meetings with some exception when the chil- 
dren's friend, Mr. R. Marsh of New Brunswick, 
N. J., was present, have been led by some of the 
children themselves. 

The meetings have been attended by 6,377 
children giving an average attendance of 65 at 
each meeting. 

Our Sunday School is a preparatory effort, we 
train the children for attendance at their respect- 
ive Sunday schools chosen for them by their 
guardians, we keep the children under 8 years of 
age and those who have not a Sunday school 
home. 

Fifty sessions were held during the year, the 
attendance was 2,357 giving an average attend- 
ance of 47 at each session. 

Through the kindness of Dr. Louis Klopsch 135, 
children have enjoyed a ten days outing at the 
Christian Herald's Children's Home, Mont Laivn, 
Nijack, N. Y., we take this occasion to thank him 
for the many privileges granted and courtesies 
extended to us in connection with having the 
children provided as above. 

Fifty-four mothers witii 113 children were 
provided with an excursion given by the St. John's 
Oiiild Floating Hospital Association. 

Twenty-five mothers with forty-nine children, 
have been provided Avith a trip to the Staten 
Island Seaside Hospitcd, and have been blessedly 
cared for during the summer, also, through the 
agency of the St. John's Guild, whom we again 
wish to thank for their kindness. 



Thirteen mothers with nineteen children have 
also partaken of that wonderful charity carried 
on by the " Edgeiuater Creche" association. Our 
people have come away from the Creche speak- 
ing in unqualified laudatory terms of this 
dignified and acceptable charity. 

Our Seiving School was reo.pen8d on October 
10th. 

We had an average attendance of twenty- 
seven girls under fourteen years of age pupils of 
the public schools. Every one of the girls was 
enabled to finish by Chi-istnias a useful garment 
which they carried to their homes as the 
fruits of their toil and attention. 

The Christmas Festival was this year' duly 
observed, 157 of our little ones, marked for 
regular attendance were each remembered with 
a substantial present and a bag of Christmas 
sweets &c., others were presented with sweets 
and fruits only. A grand elaborately trimmed 
Christmas tree graced the occasion. Some of our 
friends and directors helped us to distribute the 
gifts. . , 

In closing this jeport we wish to thank our 
patrons for having enabled us to do all this work, 
we ask them to stand by us this year, to continue 
this grand work of God, influence others to come 
in with us to share in the blessijigs which will 
surely come to them who are helping to make 
this world a little better. 

Every one of these poor little ones snatched 
from the neglect occasioned by the surroundings 
of poverty, misery and sometimes squalor, is put 
in a position to become the honest and bright 
man and woman whom we will gladly take by 
the hand and welcome as fellow-citizens, as 
brothers and sisters, who will help us and our 
children to make this country what it should be, 
a happy resting place for men and women and a 
blessed abode for God, in whose name this is 

Respectfully Submitted 

E. PR. DEVARE, 
C. Pk. Devare, General Manager . 

Superintendent. 



To possess the children, means to possess the 
next generation. 

But, alas, our selfishness stands in theway ; to 
work among and with children means Idiig -and 
patient toil, long waitings for results. 

There is a good deal of selfi.3h satisfaction in 
working with adults, they can speak and approve, 
they can show their approval by praising our 
methods, thus causing us a good deal of satisfac- 
tion and self-glorification. But to Work among 
children, is like burying self, is like soW^iiig'Sefid, 
which goes under the ground, dies first, and dis- 
appears before it amounts to anything. 



The Abigail 



The Treasurer >vishes to. acknowledge with due 
appreciation the following contributions from 
friends sent in through Mrs. Isabelle G. Stanley, 
since our annual report was made up. 



MEMBERSHIP OP THE.'ABIGAIL FREE 
SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN. 



Lester Cohen . . . .' |i.t)0 Johnson Cowdin & Co. . . . . .$I oo 

Ilecht & Co. . . . '■' 1. 00 R. II. IngersoU & Bros i.oo 

Chas. Sieburg i.oo Cbik. Chopin & Eurchard. . 2.00 

Rosenfeld &. Jonas: . .'.' .... i.oo S. A. Vi'illiams 2.00 

Nicholl & Ray Co 2.00 Shiner Bros i.oo 

The A. M. Speed Co 1,00 Ryan & Green i.oo 

II. 11. Rowe Jr ■. .' i.oo Henry Saponk. i.oo 

Henry F.. Lindemeyer 2.00 S. Levy I.oo 

A. Schlesinger v..;,. i.oo I teller & Kaufman. ... i.oo 

Franken thai Bros. ....... . I.oo Ed. Thompson Sons. ■ ■ 100 

D. llirchberg & Bros. ....' I.oo G. Emden i.oo 

M. A. Farrell & Co i.oo Arlington Shirt Mfg. Co I.oo 

Kaufman Cold... 100 Eiseman Bros 1.00 

Wm. Reid i.co Ph, Humbert 2.00 

W. H. Grayi'i .'. . : . .; I.oo Franklin & Jlirsky 3.00 

Chas. Broadway Rouss. . . . 5.00 J. Miles I 00 

J. M. Ilbchnagel. I.oo Linder, Dofflein & Bartsch. . 100 

Rosenthal & Grotte I.oo Wm. Carroll & Co I.oo 



J. Bush. 



25 Isaac Rogcbart 25 

Mosher & Atterbury 25 J.Rosenblatt 25 

James Whiteside . . . . : i.oo 

B. Ilirsch, one large basket The Bovinine Co., i dozen Bovinine. 



JHE lBIGAIL«- 



A AlONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 



JUVENILE MISSION WORK. 



The Abigail Free School 

and Kindergarten. 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

$1.00 per inch per insertion. 



Rates of Advertising : 



$10.00 per incli per year. 



Business and Publication Office : 
104 SULLIVAINI STREET, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York. 



Board of Directors. 
S. S. SwAiM, 35 Park Row, 
H. B. Smith, 1475 Broadway, 
Wm. Baldwin, 150 Fifth Ave., 
Stephen Merritt, 241 W. 23d. St. 
J, E. Messenger, M. D., 323 W. 19th St. 



Officers. 
J. S. HuYLER, President, 
64 Irving PI. 
Mrs. J. V. Dennett, Treasurer, 
56 W. 96th St. 

Mrs. E. Pr. Devare, General Manager, 
104 Sullivan St. 

C. Pr. Devare, Sec'y and Siipt., 
104 Sullivan St. 

Annual Me.mbess. 
A. W. Dennett, 

E. J. Brady, 

Ed. Stallknecht, 

Wm. V. Havemeyer, 

G. A. TWBLE, 

J. A. Dahn. 



Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Childs, 
B. F. De Klyn, 

L. Klopsch, Ph. D., 
S. V. Close, 

Mrs. J. Wasson, 

Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Taylor, 
Mrs. H. B. Smith, 

Mrs. L. S. Smith. 



Supporting Members. 
Chas. L. Tiffany, 

Osw. P. Ottendorfer, 
Mrs. F. Swaim Balto, 
]Sr. Nielsen, 

Chas. J. Coulter, 
Jacob Ruppert, 

Mrs. Geo. Ehret, 
Clarence Whitman, 

RoBT. A. Galea WAY, 
H. H. Palmer, 

Edwin J. Gillies, 
Jas. McCrebry, 
C. Bruno, . 

E. W. Bennett, 

Chas. Henry. 



8 



The Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression tliat the 
Child, is tiie father to the man ; and as 
the child is, so in all probability will the man be. 
History and expeiience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon the child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carry it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending tlieir tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May. 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 189,j. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during tlieir public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of sio.OO will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of S:3o.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient to respond 
with your synipathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1S9S. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to 8500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten, 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



I. 
The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 

n. 

This institution, guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 

The School will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a xiianner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. . IV. 

The school is intended for boys and girls.. 

The age at wJiich children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

]SI o charge of any kind will be made, and no 
•remuneration will be received from those wlio 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 

The children Avill be provided with, games, 
amusements, ancl object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and mindsto habitsof Jndusttyand 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those , in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this Scliool will be 
jjrovided each dav with a substantial lunch. 
X. 

A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XIL 

Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P.M. XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory, is held 10.30 A.M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School; open 
everv Wednesday 4 P. M. 
XV. 

Every week daj', except Saturday, from 3 to 
■4 P. M., the School i^ thrown open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend public 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M. : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.; dismissal for keep-overs C.30 P.JJ,' 



A?' 









Ope Qod 



Ope SGI700I 




Ope Qouptry 



Ope lap(5tja(5e 






ORGAN OF THE ABIGAIL FREE SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN. 



Vol. I, No. 2. 



luMSxJLLivAN St.TNew York City, March, 1898. 



50c PER Year 



GREEN-GOODS." 



"Joe" went to public school last year, he was 
duly enrolled in the A. B. C. grade of the primary 
department. 

The first day he attended school he came back 
to us with a ticket, he was just teeming over 
with joyous pride to be able to bring a sign of 
approval from his teacher, for he knew, though 
he had not looked at it, that on the ticket was 
printed " for a good boy." 

Next day Joe came a few minutes later but 
again with a ticket, there was not exactly the 
same gleam as yesterday on his countenance it 
was blurred by a kind of subdued streak. 

I've got a ticket Mr. Devare he said and passed 
on. 

But ! Oh ! On the ticket was printed, for a 

good girl." 

When Joe was told of it, he went into a way oft' 
corner of the room and sat quiet, dull and over- 
come during the hour that the children generally 
spend in the afternoon in patriotic singing. 

He has been overheard explaining how he 
wheedled and coaxed a little girl acquaintance 
to give him the ticket. 

Joe has occasionally since missed a ticket 
but he never brought a girl's ticket again. 

Joe's experience to do the crooked for the first 
time was a sad one, we fully believe that it has 
been a salutary lesson. 

For Joe is exaniplary truthful in all things 

The notice which the N. V. Times in its issue 
of February Gth, gave us is much appreciated. 
Some of our friends professing to be closer to us 
have so far passed us over in silence. Why ? 

We are ready for the responses. 



OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES COMETH 
WISDOM. 



Little Johnny Huyler, a lad, four years of age, 
takes a great interest in the Abigail School. In 
talking to Mr. Devare about the children he asked 
a good many questions concerning their condit- 
ions, just such as a little child will want to ask. 

When he was told about the children's pictures 
that had been taken at the school, he expressed a 
wish to have one. 

A picture was accordingly framed and sent to 
him. He was delighted and looked at it with 
the keenest pleasure visible upon his little coun- 
tenance. 

Suddenly he called to some one and said ; look 
here! pointing his finger at the picture, "Mr. 
Devare said that the picture was to be all children 
and there is Mr. Devare heself ! 

Mr. and Mrs. Devare were represented among 
tlie children in the picture. The dear little fellow 
unknowingly announced the great secret of the 
success of the Abigail Free School and Kinder- 
garten. 

They're all children, teacher, manager and su- 
perintendent, all children, and the children know 
it, hence, the mutual love and attachment, the 
onlv foundation for success in work like ours. 



" I expect to pass this way but once ; if, there- 
fore, there be any kindness I can show, or any 
good thing I can do to my fellow human beings, 
let me do it now, let me not defer nor neglect it, 
for I shall not pass this way Siga\n.''—Helxjing 
Hand. 



10 



The Abigail 




ABIGAIL HAPPENINGS. 



Teacher to little boy. "See here Mikey, you 
are again very naughty, I have punished j^ou 
only yesterday for saying that bad word, and 
now you have said it again." 

I don't know what to do with you, I believe I 
have to give you a spanking. Now Mikey, you 
know, this is no pleasure to me, for I love you so 
much, and I do hate to beat a little boy like you. 

Little Mikey/ " Yes sir I " I know, you like 
to lick big men best, so "they can lick you back!' 
•—This, Mikey said with an earnest uplifted face; 
not a bit of a smile or the least sign of precocious- 
ness in his expression. 

The teacher hurried away quickly to give vent 
to a sudden accumulation of mirth, afraid that 
little Mikey might witness it and thus have all 
the effect of his natural talent lost. 



Charlie putting up an elaborate structure with 
building-blocks ; Jimmie came close to look on 
with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. This 
dialogue then followed. 

Charlie: "Getaway Jimmie! I don't want 
you ! you shoved my last housie over with your 
foot." 

Jimmie ! " I won't do it again, I did not mean 
to the last time." 

Charlie ! Oh ! get away Avith you, what did 
God give you brains for ? To think ! see ! — why 
don't you put your think in your foot ! your foot 
no good when you don't think ! 

The above was overheard by the superintend- 
ent during one of the playing-hours in the school. 

The little fellow had evidently been paying 
close attention to the remarks made by the 
teacher during some previous object lessons. It 
is wonderful how some of the little ones appre- 
ciate the most practical lessons when made ready 
for the process of absorption by the child mind. 



"SUCCESSFUL ABIGAILEES." 

Many of our little ones who are now attending 
public school give excellent records of the effects 
of the training received in their earlier years at 
the Abigail School. Our children advance invar- 
iably more raj^idly in the priinary departments, as 
compared Avith other children of equal conditions 
and surroundings, but deprived of the salu- 
tary influences emanating from the care bestowed 
upon the children in the "Abigail." 

Our children become for example very efficient 
in the task of " drawing." During last season 
we were told by the resj^ective teachers and 
principals that our children excelled in drawing. 
One of our little ones obtaining the prize, others 
had their work on exhibition before the whole 
school. 

The Department of "Drawing lessons" is 
under the care of Miss E. Burd, who has for the 
last five years come regularly once a week to give 
the poor waifs their lesson. Heat, cold or storm 
haA'e never prevented her to miss a lesson with 
her youngsters to whom she is fondly attached. 

We know it must be a satisfaction to her to be 
told of the success of her little scholars after they 
have left her for larger spheres of labors. 

Many true-handed mechanic, and therefore in 
love with his work, will be able to look back to 
Miss Burd in the Abigail School for his success 
and proficiency in his craft. 

We say " Mechanics " we might have said civil 
engineers. Presidents of the United States and 
more, but we'd rather not, for we are here to 
train children with a view to become useful in 
the sphere that is naturally allotted to them, 
leaving the artificial " air castles " to other des- 
tiny shaping influences. 



ATTEND TO LITTLE THINGS ! 



Some boys like to say big things and do big 
things. It is Avell to set your mark high and you 
need a good mark. If you do not hit the mark at 
first— try again . Don't get discouraged. Do^^little 
things that you know are right and later on you 
will find you can do greater things. Remember 
you are making a record. Your example has an 
influence in the life of every companion ; there- 
fore " do as you know you ought to do." Avoid 
bad habits. Avoid bad companions. Avoid 
every appearance of evil. — R. M. 



We wish to thank our honored friend Mr. E.J, 
Brady of 79 Warren Street, for the kindness he 
has again done us. 

" We earnestly pray that all his kindness to 
the little ones Avill prove to him " bread cast 
upcn the water in more than one way. 



The Abigail 



LONGFELLOW'S FIRST POEM. 

When our great poet was nine years old, his master wanted him to 
write a " composition." Little Henry like all children, shrank from 
the undertaking. His master said ; 

" You can write words, can you not ?" 

" Yes," was the reply, 

" Then you can put words together? " 

" Yes, sir." 

" Then" said the master, " you may take your slate and go out 
behind the school house, and there you can find something to write 
about, and then you can tell what it is, what it is for, and what is to 
be done with it. 

Henry took his slate and went out. He went behind Mr. Finney's 
barn, and seeing a fine turnip growing up, he thought he knew what 
that was, what it was for, and what would be done with it. 

A half hour had been allowed to Henry for his first undertaking in 
writing compositions. 

In a half hour he carried in his work all accDmplished, and the 
master is said to have been effected almost to tears when he saw what 
little Henry had done in that short time. 

The following had b;en written by Henry on his slate. 
MR FINNEY'S TURNIP. 



LITTLE CHARLIE. 



Mr. Finney had a turnip 

And it grew, and it grew. 
And it grew behind the barn. 

And the turnip did no harm. 
And it grew, and it grew, 

Till it could grow no taller ; 
Then Mr. Finney took it up 

And put it in the cellar. 

There it lay, there it lay. 

Till it began to rot; 
When his daughter Susie washed it, 

And she put it in the pot. 

Then she boiled it, and boiled it. 

As long as she was able ; 
Then his daughter Lizzie took it. 

And she put it on the table. 
Mr. Finney and his wife 

Both sat down to sup ; 
And they ate, and they ate, 

Until they ate the turnip up. 

WASTED CARESSES. 



She kissed the okl man ; she showered upon 
kissed and tears. She tokl all the people how 
good he was. I thought if she had given two of 
those kisses per quarter for the last ten j-ears how 
the tender hearted old gentleman would have 
smiled through his tears. But now he took it 
very coolly. He was dead. He was old and poor, 
she young and rich. She had ten rooms but no 
room for her father. The " old man " was not 
educated. She was ; at his expense. He had fed 
and clothed her for twenty years at home and at 
college, until she had risen into "more refined 
and cultivated society," and married among 
ttiem. The old people's dress and dialect was too 
coarse. She kissed him and bui-ied him in a 
beautiful coffin. " Dear Father " is to have a 
costly marble monument. A warm kiss while 
living is better than cold marble when dead.— 
Selected. 



Charles Marsh lived in Flushing, New York. 
He was a lovely boy of four years and was far 
better than any boy, his little sisters Carrie and 
Charlotte ever knew. Sometimes he done wrong, 
and no one knew of it sooner than dear old 
Grandma Hemsted, when in great haste Charlie 
would get into bed by her side and cover his 
head as he said Gan-ma— " dont let ma-ma whip 
me— I won't do soo-gain." He loved to gather 
the clams on the bay shore near by when his 
father dug them from the sand at low tide. He 
delighted in being big just like pa-pa, whose 
boots he would put on, and then he would slip on 
pa-pa's tall hat which he would hold high enough 
so he could just see to walk, when he would just 
surprise ma-ma — when he knocked and as the 
door was opened he would say "ise jia-pa" and 
the cordial welcome and loving kiss was his anti- 
cipated reward. He would look up at the stars 
and big full moon while being told about God, 
and His dear Son Jesus who died to save every 
one. After saying the prayer his mother taught 
on retiring or rising daily— he would add, on re- 
tiring. 

Now I lay me down to sleep 

I pray the Lord my soul to keep. 

If I should die before I wake ■ 

I pray the Lord my soul to take. 

Awake in morn or wake I never, 

I give my soul to Christ forever. 

Time pa.sses on— the doctor has been to see dear 

Charlie whose mind is wandering. His active 

brain has been overworked, and the watchful 

mother and father are told Charlie can't live 

much longer, midnight draws near, the exhausted 

mother is reclining near by, Charlie opens his 

eyes and whispers a few words and than becomes 

quiet, the father rises from the chair beside the 

crib and seeks the open air. As he paces up 

and down the portico his prayer ends thus " Oh 

God spare our only son, not my will oh— God but 

thy will be done. Then the quiet of midnight is 

broken. The cannon at Fort Schuyler and the 

bells from the church steeples at Flushing hail 

the New Year. A little later fond parents stand 

beside the dear Charlie while angels waft one 

more soul to Heaven. Charlie is now safe in the 

arms of Jesus. — R. M. 



A NEW PAPER. 

The first number of the Abigail, a newspaper 
published in the interest of the Abigail Free 
School and Kindergarten, at lOi Sullivan Street, 
Manhattan, has just made its appearance. It 
contains much matter of interest to all those 
engaged in the work of teaching children.— 
Brooklyn Eagle, 'Feh.'l'iih.,!^^. 



12 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 



ORGAN OF THE 



104 SULLIVAN STREET, 

BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN^ CITY OF NEW YORK, 



C. Pr. DEVARE, Editor, Mrs.J. V. DENNETT, Assisting Editor, 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, joc Per Year. g cents Per Copy, 



All Communications and Subscriptions, etc., please send to the 
Editor, 104 Sullivan Street, Boroush ol Manhattan, N. Y. City. 



*' Suffer little children to come unto ms and forbid them 
not." -Luke XVlll., i6. 

New York, March 1st, 1898. 



EDITORIAL. 



IT is all very well for churches, synagogues and 
other temples built hj man's hand to bundle 
up their bag and baggage and flee before the 
tide of humanity that presses continually around 
them. This does not solve the problem of 
what IS to become of the children of the 
unchurched and anti-church population crowded 
in the down-town districts of this great city, and 
who are generally spoken of with a sympathetic 
shrug of the shoulder, as the down-town tene- 
ment district people. 

The poor are there, yes the poor in body of this 
world's good's, the i^oor in miiid, and, above all, 
the poor in soul — poor in life. 

The poor around us are crowded in dark and 
dingy tenements, tier piled upon tier, until it 
seems as if the filthy foundations of the buildings 
would groan at the burden of woe they bear. 

In these down-town districts from which the 
churches and the practical sympathies of the 
church people have flown, children swarm like 
vermin. Death stalks through these crowded 
places, with his scythe always swinging, a 
blessed mercy, at least subjectively considered. 
From thousands of doors in summer there flutter 
each week the white ribbons which tell of broken 
hearts and homes. But many, many children, 
who are spared by even this unenviable mercy 
are left to grow and live. To grow and live to 
what ? 1 hear some sceptic saying within the 



secrecy of his own being, "I do not know," and 
more, "I do not care." To the former I would 
say in the language of the Creator addressed to 
Cain. " Cain what hast thou done with thy 
brother ? " To the latter I will address myself 
more fully in the language of a contemporary. 

" I hear the coming tread of a generation of 
men who not only know not the name of God, 
but who do not even know the name of the gov- 
ernment in which they were born, who do not 
know the flag under which they are supposed to 
marcli as citizens, who one day may stand before 
a staggering State and challenge it to make good 
its own life before the stern tribunal of the shot- 
gun, the dagger, the torch and the dynamite 
bomb ! " 

These children growing up around us without 
God, or the knowledge of truth, or the influence 
of civilization, without a domestic training, can- 
not be left alone with impunity. If you do not 
love them, they will make you look after them 
to save your own life bye and bye. 

Useless to dodge this issue with a shrug of the 
shoulder and a spirit of " laissez aller." It has 
to be met ! The Abigail Free School and Kinder- 
garten has met it for these last nine years (it will 
be nine years next May) it has reached a limited 
number of children surrounded with the condit- 
ions mentioned, it has exerted its influence by 
compelling others to think and work in the same 
direction. 

We know that we are at the practical end of 
the work which is to solve this great national 
problem, which ovei-shadows in its immensity 
and far-reaching result any other problem before 
the Nation. 

We ask thinking American readers, sensible 
men and patriots, business men and conservators 
of the nation to lend us their sympathy, put it in 
practical shape, so we can enlarge the scope of 
our work among the neglected children of New 
York and bring them a step nearer to useful 
citizenship, to convert them from a menace to 
our nation to a lot of men and women that will 
be an honor to our land, and who will be, if 
needs be, the first perhaps to offer their lives to 
the preservation of the continuance of the reign 
of liberty and equality in this the only constitut- 
ional Republic of the Universe. 



An error occurred in our statement of sub- 
scriptions received as recorded in February issue 
of The Abigail. Mr. Baldwin, one of our trus- 
tees got credit for $125.00, and he objects as he 
only paid into our treasury 825.00. The other 
SIOO.OO should have been credited to "The Louise 
Fund," which came to us through Bro. Baldwin's 
agency and hence the error in its credit to him, 
which he asks us to correct. 



The Abigail 



^3 



THE CHILD THE WARD OF THE STATE. 



NO question arises among well balanced people 
as to the duty of the State to provide the 
children of the nation with a universal education. 
This education must consist in the simple state- 
ments of facts governed by one principle and 
that is truth. Truth alone can beget knowledge, 
a higher autliority, has stated that truth sliall 
make us free. The State that grants universal 
suffrage to its people must grant as a matter of 
necessity a universal education, an education that 
puts all the participants of universal suffrage 
upon an equal basis and foundation. 

Religion as represented by the various human 
aggregations calling themselves "religious" is 
not in a position and never will be in a position 
to grant the universal education required by a 
people, who are universal suffragists, like the 
American peoi^le. 

Religion, so represented, is too limited in its 
scope, too confined in its limits to ever be able to 
do more than aid the State in its task, by teaching 
that patriotism and religion must go hand in 
hand, that without true patriotism religion is a 
misnomer, that religion which does not inspire 
true aiid unreserved patriotism is a sham and a 
truism. 

The public school system of America,, has 
become our great national bulwark, and is the 
true exponent of the duty of the State, the sov- 
ereign representative of a sovereign people, to 
the people that makes him and upholds him by 
their suffrage. 

We have heard ai-guments or better say object- 
ions brought forth against our public school 
system under the plea, that the State by defining 
what should be taught to the children, encroaches 
upon the rights of the parents and descends far 
within the limits of the domestic empire. 

This objection we meet as follows : Firstly, 
let us not forget, as it is said in the beginning : 
the State furnishes an education, setting forth 
facts only, facts unvarnished with the manipula- 
tions of any ism's or distinctions, facts of science 
deducted from principles only by a purely logical 
process, facts representing truth, which alone 
begets true knowledge and in its turn leads 
to God. 

Secondly, we say that tlie State by doing its 
duty in educating our children does not assume 
anything out of the common order ; all the laws 
on our statutebook with regard to the protection 
of minors and infants against neglect, against 
severity, cruelty, crimes practised by parents 
upon their off-spring, might then as well be re- 
garded as so many encroachments upon the 
paternal or domestic circle. 

The child, who makes, who upholds the State, 
must become -the -ward of the State, fitted and 



prepared by the State for that manhood that 
invests him with universal suffrage ; this can 
only be done by a universal education guaranteed 
by the State to be free from any influence that 
will raise citizen against citizen on account of 
race, color or religion. 

The average age for fitness for the tasks im- 
posed by our public schools is seven years. Alas 
too many of our little ones under the age of 
seven are drifting hopelessly and aimlessly upon 
our thoroughfares, cared by no guiding and 
shielding influence. These children are the 
off-spring of parents, who are often unfit to 
properly care for them; more often however, 
such children are of parents whom the cruel 
necessities of life oblige to toil from morning to 
night. It is not our object in this article to in- 
quire into the causes of children of the age of 
three to seven being by necessity driven into the 
street. 

Let that part of society, which is responsible 
for this state of affairs, solve the problem. We 
know that thousands of these little ones are 
crowding our streets they are deprived of any 
domestic education, of any preparation for the 
tasks of the public school. 

They come to the school when of school age as 
so much raw, entirely raw material, not worked 
into shape for receiving the touches of school 
education. 

Day asylums, kindergartens of a mild form, 
preparatory schools for the little ones are needed, 
the State should provide them ; for it is as much 
the State's duty to see that its wards should not 
be deprived of the common domestic education 
before school age, as it is to provide for them 
against other cruelties 

The Abigail Free School and Kindergarten has 
for nearly nine years stood in the breach to fill 
this want. A few friends have rallied around us 
and have supported the work. 

Signal success has followed their work and 
sacrifices; many little ones who would have 
swelled the fearfully growing numbers of hood- 
lums in our city are attending public schools now 
and ai-e advancing to manhood and citizenship. 

The Abigail School modelled itself upon the 
basis of the American public school system, 
hence its success. 

We recommend our work to the notice of our 
readers and to tlie observation of those, who are 
interested or engaged in the educational system 
of our Public Schools. 



" The work of the world is done by a few; God 
looks for a part to be done by YOU \— Helping 
Hand. 



14 



The Abigail 



THE TIRED MOTHER. 

A liltle elboAT leans upon your knee ; 
Your tired knee that has so much to be .r, 
A child's dear eyes are looking loving'y 
From underneath a tha'.ch of golden hair, 
Perhaps you do not heed the velvet touch 
Of warm, moist fingers holding yours so tight, 
You do not prize this blessing over much, 
You almost are too tired to pray to night. 

But it is blessedness ! A year ago 

I did not see it as I see to-day, 

We are so dull and thankless and too slow 

To catch the sunshine till it slips away ; 

And now it seems surprising strange to me 

That while I wore the badge of motherhood 

I did not kiss more oft and tenderly 

The little child that brought me only good. 

And if some night, when yon sit down to rest, 
You miss the elbaw from your tired kn.e, 
The restless, curly head from off your breast. 
The lisping tongue that chattered constantly ; 
If from your own the dimpled hands had slipped 
And ne'er would nestle in your palm again, 
If the white feet into the grave had tripped, 
I could not blame you for your heartache then. 

I wonder so that mothers ever fret. 

At little children clinging to their gown ; 

Or that the footprints when the days are wet 

Are ever black enough to make them frown. 

If I could find a little muddy boot. 

Or cap, or jacket, on my chamber floor ; 

If I could kiss a rosy, restless foot. 

And hear it patter in my house once more ; 

If I could mend a broken cart to-day, 
To-morrow make a kite to reach the sky. 
There is no woman in God's world could say 
She was more blissfully content than I. 
But oh ! the dainty pillow next my own 
Is never rumpled by a shining head ; 
My singing birdling from his nest is flown. 
My little boy I used to kiss is dead. - Selected. 

PA'S PRAYERS. 

One hard winter, when sickness came to the 
poorly paid pastor of a certain New England 
church, his flock determined to meet at his house 
and offer prayers for the speedy recovery of the 
sick ones and for material blessings upo)i the 
pastor's familj\ While one of the deacons was 
offering a fervent prayer for blessings upon the 
pastor's household, there was a loud knock at the 
door. When tlie door was opened a stout farmer 
boj- was seen. " What do you want, boy?" asked 
one of the elders. "I've brought pa's prayers," 
replied the boy. "Brought pa's prayers ? What 
do you mean ? " "Yep, brought pa's prayers, an' 
they're out in the wagon. Just help me, an' 
we'll get 'em in." Investigation disclosed the 
fact that " pa's prayers " consisted of potatoes, 
flour, bacon, cornmeal, turniiDS, ajDples, warm 
clothing and a lot of jellies for the sick ones. 
The prayer-rneeting adjourned in short order. — 
Argonaut. 



CHARITY THAT IS NOT CHARITY. 



Lately we had a gentleman visiting our school, 
after he had exhausted all the fund of enquiries 
about the work, which enquiries we were only too 
glad to answer in the most liberal and broad 
manner, we took him to the general class-roona, 
where the children did some singing and perfor- 
mance for him. 

He appeared delighted and did not hesitate to 
acknowledge it. 

He after having looked the children carefully 
over put the following question ? 

How do you manage to keep your children so 
clean and well shod and clothed ? 

We told him, that everything the children 
wore was supplied by their own homes, that we 
consistently refuse to clothe them or to distribute 
articles of clothing among them. 

We have had some little trouble in enforcing 
this upon the parents but by perseverance in our 
task we have succeeded. 

We provide them with almost anything else 
except clothing and footwear. 

We insist that the children must come clean 
and properly clothed. 

Then the gentleman in question told us how in 
the institution, with which he was connected,the 
children Avere continually in rags, the soles 
hanging invariably from their shoes, though 
clothing and footwear were liberally distributed 
among them. 

We call this pauperizing the parents and the 
little ones; so much of this is done unwittingly 
in our city. 

It might be charity as some people interpret it, 
but it is not kindness it is not painstaking love. 

It will not make these children provident, it 
will not make them fit to be American self- 
supporting citizens. 

We believe our way, whenever practicable, is 
the right way. 

Did you ever see a happier lot of young ones 
than those in our picture on page 10 r 

Miss G. W. Tobias has joined our "supporting 
membership," and has since January become a 
regular contributor. 

We are obliged to our old friends of the Primi- 
tive Catholic for the kind welcome they gave us 
in the issue of February 15th. 



'JUST LIKE PAPA'S.' 



"Please cut my hair" said Lyndon, 
To the man in the barber's shop ; 

"And I want it cut just like papa's," 
With a nice little round hole on top ! " 

. .. _ . . ■— EMM.A;C. D.O.AY.D-- 



The Abigail 



1^ 



The following contributions were received through Mrs. Isabella G. 
Stanley since we went to press last. We take pleasure to acknowledge 
them with thanks. 

Ed. Sommerich, .f r ; B. Light & Co., 25c; Ceo. F. Wiemann |i ; 
H. J. Martin and Co. 50c; Jennie Bloom, icc; Wni. E. Thorn, I5; 
Scott & Bogle, |i; M. Pascarello, 15c; Frederick Keppell, |i; 
Fownes Bros & Co. $2; Knotlie & Bros. $1; A. Weinheadler $1; Ad. 
Levy, 50c; T. F. Jones, 25c; Ed. C. Balch, $1; B. Crowe, 50c; 
Trice & Willlgrod, Si; Wm. Eisenhener & Co. $1; Klugman & Go!d- 
farb, 50c; Lemaitre & L'EpIattenier, |i; N. Schroder, |i; W. 
Meinoff 25c; Ph. Schies.|i; Ode & Gerbereux $1; M. S. Comes, |i; 
Earle Chemical Co. $1; L. Burger, 50c; B. Bernstein, $1; Wiley 
Bush & Co. 25c; Continental Match Co. 5 gross matches; Vanloon, 
McGuire & Gaffney, 2 lbs. coffee; Franklin Pub. Co. set Tenman- 
charts; Milton Bradley Co. 5 sets of alphabet blocks; Chas. G. Smith 
I gas lamp; Simpson, Hall, Miller Co. i doz teaspoons; Adolph 
Witteman, 100 photographic views; Clarke, Wilkins & Co. one-sixth 
cord kindling wood; Am. Biscuit Co, i box crackers; R. Goldstein, 
$1; York Street Flax Spinning Mills. $5; A. N. Ryerson, I5; Sher- 
vin Williams Paint Co.$5; Tophen & Co. $1; M. Unger, I2; J. A. 
Seuerle, $1; H. Klingener, 50c; A. G. Spalding Bros. |2; C. E. 
Sprague, |[; Mr. Wespe; 50c; Germania Roofing Co. $1; Louis 
PoiDper Sons, $1; Indig Berg & Co. $1; Mr. Atterbury, $1; Otis Bros. 
&Co. I5; IL Creecy Morrisson, $1; Schwab, Fashion Mfg Co. fi; 
Berg & Leroy, $1; Geo. C. Levelius, 50c; Heincke & Bonen, f I; L. 
Geissenor, f i; Ilackett, Carhart & Co. $5; P. Campenemose, 25c; 
Ilerrman Bros 25c; Beckermann cS: Co. f I; Geo. M. Kneuper f i: A. 
Koehn, 50c; J. J. Lattemann, .fi; Syndicate Trading Co. fl; C. E. 
Kretzler,25c; E. Rinke, $2; Vanderhoof &Co.i5; Billwiller Bros, $2; 
Adolph Wimpheimer & Co. ft; Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. $2 
A Friend in Christ, Is: Thos. F. Snow, 50c: Jno. C. Roelof, 50c. 



MEMBERSHIP OF THE ABIGAIL FREE 
SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN. 



«fHE IbIGAIL^^> 

A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 

JUVENILE MISSION WORK. 



ORGAN OF 



The Abigail Free School 

and Kindergarten, 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

$1.00 per inch per insertion. 



Rates of Advertising : 



$10.00 per inch per year. 



Business and Publication Office : 
104 SULLIVAN STREET, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York. 



Board of Directors. 
S. S. SwAiM, 25 Park Row, 
H. B. Smtth, 1475 Broadway, 
Wm. Baldwin, 150 Fifth Ave., 
Stephen Merritt, 241 W. 23d. St. 
J. E. Messenger, M. D., .323 W. 19th St. 



Officers. 
J. S. HuYLER, President, 
G4 Irving PI. 
Mrs. J. V. Dennett, Treasurer, 
5G W. 9Gth St. 

Mrs. E. Pr. Devarb, General Manager, 
104 Sullivan St. 

C. Pr. Devare, Sec'y and Supt., 
104 Sullivan St. 

Annual Members. 
A. W. Dennett, 

E. J. Brady, 

Ed. Stallknecht, 

Wm. F. Havemeyer, 
G. A. TwELE, 

J. A. Dahn. 



Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Childs, 
B. F. De Klyn, 

L. Klopsch, Ph. D., 
S. V. Close, 

Mrs. J. Wasson, 

Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Taylor, 
Mrs. H. B. Smith,, 

Mrs. L. S, Smith. 

Supporting Members. 
Chas. L. Tiffany, 

Osw. P. Ottendorfer, 
Mrs. F. Swaim Balto, 
N. Nielsen, 

Chas. J. Coulter, 
Jacob Ruppert, 

Mrs. Geo. Ehr 
Clarence Whitman, 

Robt. a. Gallaway, 
H. H. Palmer, 

Edwin J. Gillies, 
Jas. McCreery, 
C. Bruno, 

E. W. Bennett, 

Chas. Henry, 



The Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
child is the father to the man ; and as 
the child is, so in all probability will the man be. 
History and experience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon tlie child's heart 
maxims and i^rinciples that may carry it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the oi^portunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which IS the principle foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free Scho9l and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1895. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These childi-en have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of §10.00 will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of $25.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient to respond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1898. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to $500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Sujjerintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



I. 

The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 

H- 

This institution guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 

The School will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for boys and girls. 
V. 

The age at wJiich children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind wnll be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those who 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 

The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industry and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this School will be 
provided each day with a substantial lunch. 
X. 

A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 

Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P. M. XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory, is held 10.30 A. M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensarj^, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 P. M. 
XV. 

Every week day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
4 P. M., the School is throAvn open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend public 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M. : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs 6.30 P.M. 



^yj^e abicj^/^ 



Oije (^od 



Ope Sel^ool 




Oqg Qouptry 



Oi?e la9§tja§e 



Vol. I, No. 3. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, April, 1898. 



50c PKR Year 



MORE OF THE STATE'S RELATION TO THE 
CHILD. 



E. B. Andrews of Brown University lectured 
on tlie 7th of last month in Lowell, Mass., on the 
great subject " Education." 

He said among many other things the follow- 
ing : 

"Compulsory attendance at school must be 
insisted upon. Every healthy child, from 2>^ to 
16, should be in school at least ten months each 
year. 

" Kindergarten instruction of a moderate type 
begins for the pupil the teaching of accuracy and 
excellence. Once taught in the kindergarten it 
is easy for the mind of a child to turn to books. 
Children of the kindergarten are taught kindness 
and deference to the rights of others, and they 
have had influence upon older children and par- 
ents by what they have learned. 

" Every schoolroom should be made attractive 
to the pupils. 

" In these kindergartens or preparatory schools 
lunches should be furnished without charge to 
pupils at the public expense. There have been 
criticisms upon this statement since I first made 
it. I have been trying to find out a way to pre- 
vent laziness and poverty instead of increasing 
them, as my critics would have it. I have had 
letters from some of the wisest men of the land 
commending the suggestion. 

*' School authorities all agree to-day that free 
textbooks are absolutely necessary to secure the 
best results in education. I consider free lunches 
equally essential for their health. If lunches are 
not furnished by the state, cities and towns, they 
are purchased by the pupils, and I do not think 



the food is as good as it would be provided under 
the direction of cultivated men and women. 

" If all the ideas of improved education were 
carried out there would be a great increase in the 
level of living. There would be no underbidding 
union workmen in that ideal state. There would 
be no clash of labor and capital. The ignorant 
workpeople are always the least productive. The 
poor have an idea that charity should not be ne- 
cessary. There is nothing but a unity of purpose 
needed to reach the ideal condition of living." 



MISSIONARY WITH ONION SAUCE. 



A missionary about to be put to death by a 
savage king, whom he had vainly attempted to 
convert, was greatly astonished to find that the 
king had suddenly resolved to pardon him. The 
only stipulation his majesty made was that he 
should mount his horse and carry a small sealed 
packet and a letter to another king some distance 
away. 

He started off in high glee, and on his way he 
met with a detachment of English sailors, sent 
to his assistance. They wanted him to go on 
board their ship, but he declined, being desirous 
of fulfilling his mission. But they would not 
accept this answer, and while the discussion was 
proceeding an officer examined the packet and 
the letter. 

In the former he found a number of pungent 
little onions, while the latter contained the simple 
but significant words in native hieroglyphics : 

"He will be delicious with these." — Pearson's 
Weekly. 



i8 



The Abigail 




Our sewing school as represented in the cut 
above is in a flourishing condition. The average 
attendance is twenty-three ; sessions are held on 
Monday's and Thursday's from 3 p. m. to 4.30 p. m. 

The condition of membership requires the 
attendance at public school and age between eight 
and fourteen. 

With all due respect to the musically arranged 
methods of sewing we launch out on a broader 
line; we teach only the most common and prac- 
tical parts of needle work. 

The child begins to sew on a garment, which 
she finishes after many efforts wrought in 
patience. 

When the garment is finished she takes it home 
to wear and then starts another, carrying her 
handiwork around with her and thus becoming 
the judge of her own progress. 

Our methods might be improved no doubt, but 
We like them for the one thing, namely that of 
eliminating all pretense of show and exhibition, 
which too often awaken the wrong impulse in a 
child. 

Every three months the girl excelling in punct- 
uality, order and industry, gets a reward of 
merit. 

The girl attending our sewing school is furnish- 
ed with a book which contains her name, and the 
name of the public school she attends ; this book 
has to be brought to every session, that in it 
may be stamped the date of attendance. 

Last week the books were examined by Mrs. 
Devare and compared with her notes on order and 
industi'y ; from these results the prize winner 
was selected. 



We take great pleasure to announce to the 
school and our friends at large, that Antoinetta 
Demuccio of 533 Broome Street, nine years of age 
attending 6th grade of grammar at Public School 
No. 8 in Clarke Street was the prize winner for 
the last quarter. 

The prize was a beautiful album of photograph- 
ic views of the world. We intended to have 
Antoinetta's picture in this issue but we were 
disappointed in getting it ready. 

At our Sunday school we distributed a few 
weeks ago cards bearing the impression of the 
23d Psalm. 

We charged the little ones to commit the 
Psalm to memory, promising each successful 
scholar a copy of '^ photographic views of mid- 
winter fair California." 

The next Sunday seven of the little ones had 
managed to learn the Psalm and recited it be- 
fore the class. 

Great was the joy of the successful tots when 
they received their prizes. 

If Mr. Adolph Witteman the donor of the views 
could have witnessed the joyful appreciation by 
the little ones, I think his heart would have 
rounded out with pleasure. 

The unreserved modesty with which he offered 
us liis donation has been well rewarded. 

Keep on friends " Casting your bread upon 
.the waters." 

We gladly welcome Mr. T, A. Lewis and Mr. 
Isaiah Josephy to our circle of supporting mem- 
bership. 



The Abigail 



19 



CHILD-SAVING. 



The subject of the regular monthly charity 
conference held last month at No. 105 East 
Twenty-second Street, under the auspices of the 
Charity Organization Society, was "Cliild- 
saving." Among the speakers was Mr. La Salle 
A. Maynard, who opened the conference with 
"A Plea for Play." He said in part : 

" After all that has been so well said and so 
nobly done for childhood and its needs in these 
days, few have yet come to realize how important 
a feature in the life of the normal and healthy 
child is the desire for play. We are accustomed 
to think of children's play as something to be re- 
garded, generally with considei-able indulgence 
in our own children, but often hard to be endured 
in other people's children. The little human 
animal has just as strong an impulse to sport 
and gambol as the kitten or the lamb, and it is a 
dangerous thing unduly to restrain one of the 
abiding and ruling forces in nature. Under 
natural conditions such a force may be a source 
of joy and blessing ; pent up or diverted from its 
natural channel, it may become an agent of woe 
and destruction. Let us remember this in our 
work among the children of the poor. Ought we 
do more than we have ever done to take advan- 
tage of and use this recreative instinct ? 

" There has been much discussion recently in 
the newspaper and periodical press concerning 
youthful depravity, and among the causes for it 
that have been mentioned are aii alleged lack of 
reverence for parents among young Americans, a 
lack of respect for authority of any kind, due in 
part to our political ideas and institutions ; and, 
above all, a growing carelessness and lack of 
oversight on the part of parents and guardians. 
But we question whether it may not be attribu- 
table, to a large degree, to the lack of recreation. 
It is hardly necessary to say that I have no 
special admiration for John L. Sullivan, of 
pugilistic fame, who announced himself as a can- 
didate for Mayor of Boston last fall, but there 
was a plank in his Mayoralty 'platform' which 
was made of sound timber. It was as follows : 

'' 'I'd find places for small children to play. If 
you want to stop the growth of tliieves, treat 
poor little children right.' " 

MALODOROUS CHARITY. 



The bill relating to children committed to 
charitable and public institutions in this city, 
which was justly condemned last year has been 
introduced again by Senator Ahearn. Whatever 
the motive of this measure may be, its enactment 
would produce mischievous results. It provides 
that any child committed to the care of any insti- 
tution may, on application, be restored to the 



parent or guardian by direction of the Society for 
the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and that 
thereafter the Controller shall pay to that society 
for transmission to the parent or guardian the 
money allowed for the child's maintenance in the 
institution. In brief, the bill prepares the way 
for a payment of $2 a week from the public 
treasury for every child whose parents are will- 
ing to accept the gift. The Rev. John B. Devins 
aptly characterizes it in The New York Observer 
as " An act to Encourage the Rearing of Desti- 
tute Children," that "Their parents May Be 
Supported by the State." The State Charities 
Aid Association opposes the bill, the most intelli- 
gent workers among the poor unite in condemn- 
ing it, and the Society for the Prevention of 
Cruelty to Children is averse, we understand, to 
being burdened with such a responsibility, 
Common-sense and humanity alike deinand its 
defeat. — N. Y. Tribune, 

Educate! Educate is the watchword for safety 
to our next genei-ation. 

Aid these people by all means to educate their 
children, educate the children in spite of occas- 
ionally unworthy parents. 

But in heaven's name do not pauperize them, 
by making them to understand that a bonus, a 
prize of blood money is to be the reward of their 
neglect. 

For much of this has been done in the past. 
Let us acknowledge our failings, our mistakes 
and put on the armor of reform. 

" NO ROOM FOR MOPES." 

Dr. G. Stanley Hall of Clark University attend- 
ed the Child-Study Conference held during the 
last week of December of last year at Columbus 
Hall in this city. 

Good health or wholeness etymologically is the 
same as holiness he said. Health is of supreme im- 
portance to children. Geniuses have been invalids, 
but no one will deny the prime importance of 
health. Dr. Hall spoke of the study of the defects 
of children — impaired vision, nervous diseases, 
resulting in inco-ordination, arrested growtli, 
whicli shows that disease is threatening — and 
their causes, such as error in diet, overwork, or 
anxiety. He emphasized the importance of look- 
ing after the physical welfare of the young. 

We are in danger of losing the best thing in 
youth — enthusiasm. Youth is the time to dream 
dreams, to see visions. If the excitement which 
is essential is perverted the loss is incalculable. 
One of the highest tests of man or woman is what 
they do to serve the next generation. Adole- 
scence is the time of the song of life — love. It is 
the time that taxes the utmost wisdom of parents 
and teachers. 

Dr. Hall concluded by speaking of the relation 
of child to nature, and asserted that the very 
soul of childhood is wronged if it be not exposed 
to the influences of nature, the love of which 
cultivates the faculties that make religious life 
larger, deeper, and better. 



20 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 

C. Pr. DEVARE, Editor. Mrs. J. V. DENNETT, Assistant Editor, 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, joc Per Year. S cents Per Copy, 



All CommiinlcaliODs, Subsciiptions, etc., s-l ould be sent to tlie Edi- 
tor, 1C4 Sullivan Street, Borougli of JJonhattan, N. Y. City. 



' Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." Luke XVIII,, i6. 

New York, April 1st, 1893. 

EDITORIAL. 

THE CHILD AND NATURE. 



THE child in order to develop properly must 
become acquainted with nature's subjects, 
its laws and symmetry. 

These are big words to use with reference to 
children, of the tender age coming under our 
care. 

Yet they are theoretically true and will with 
common sense application readily yield to 
practice. 

One of the reasons that so many of the young 
men of the middle and poorer classes turn out to 
be failures, or better, dunces in the spiritual and 
physical order, is, because we allow them to 
mature under the neglect of the study of nature 
and its close application to their ideas of morality. 

Nature, its laws to a limited extent, must be 
inculcated in the child's mind ; no need to be 
alarmed about the spiritual being excluded. 

For the child with a fair notion of nature in- 
stilled by moderate object lessons, will be ready 
to grasp and later on to perfectly harmonize the 
spiritual with the natural. 

He that ignores the notions of matter and sub- 
stantial form will never be able to render to 
himself an account of the co-ordination of ideas, 
of definition, of judgment of argument. For all 
these operations are based upon the conception 
of a subject and of a form that are identical with 
the subjective conception of the Supreme Being. 

Without a due conception of matter and form 
man will not readily know the source, or better 
to say, will not submit to the process of demon- 
stration, which produces science, draws from it 
its force and its worth. 

Without these same notions the mind is incap- 



able of grasping by experience the principle of 
causality and to force within itself exact ideas of 
efficient, material, formal and final causes. 

If we do not comprehend the composition of 
objects and bodies, how are we to comprehend 
attributes of a God, the order of things created, 
their harmony, their forces, their movements 
and their perfections. 

Anthropology and its dependent sciences tend 
with great force to incomplete and even erron- 
eous conclusions, when they are not supported 
by a true conception of the substantial unity of 
human nature. 

Hence we deem it necessary to eliminate from 
the child's mind the ghost and cock and bull stor- 
ies of an unpractical age,with which the infantile' 
mind used to be regaled at the expense of brain 
and nerve. 

Incalculable harm has been done by the inno- 
cent lies imposed upon children about things that 
we were too lazy to explain properly to them ; 
man}- children have not even in manhood sus- 
ceeded to overcome some of these barbarous and 
mischievous impressions. 

No ! let us trust the child with the secrets of 
nature and leave the developing power of the 
soul to Him who made both. 



A VISIT." 



One of the most delightful hours that I have 
spent in a long time was at the Abigail Free 
School and Kindergarten at 104 Sullivan Street. 
In company with a friend I visited the school and 
was delighted with the cleanliness and order pre- 
vailing, and with the bright cheery faces of the 
children and teachers. 

We arrived at the hour when tlie children were 
having their song drill. About 130 children were 
present. 

On long rows of benches these little tots were 
seated all with small flags which they waved 
enthusiastically while the band played "The Red 
White and Blue " " Star Spangled Banner " or 
" Marching Through Georgia I " The band con- 
sisted of drums, tambourines and fifes, accom- 
panied by a violin and piano. The Denny 
brothers, Lucien and Constant, play the last 
named instruments beautifully and correctly, 
reading music readily. Michael Loardie, a bright 
little fellow who had just arrived at the dignity 
of trousers was placed on a seat and with a baton 
in his little hand kept perfect time with the music, 
leading the singing, and with all the ease of a 
Sousa. I was amazed, and looking at my friend 
saw her silently brusliing the tears that were 
filling her eyes. 



The Abigail 



21 



In answer to an inquiry, Mr. Devare said " Oh 
Michael is a good boy noiv but you should have 
seen him when he first came to us. Bad, he was 
about the most depraved specimen of small 
humanity I have ever encountered. Swear, call 
names, sullen ! ' Me no like Jesus !' ' Me wont 
sing !' ' Me don't like school ! ' But now he is 
obedient, gentle and generous. To-day he put 
two pennies in the poor box for children who 
have no money to buy tops." 

A little girl who was so sweet and gentle and 
sang the songs correctly attracted our attention. 
Mr. Devare gave us a bit of her history. She was 
his prize scholar now, but such a temper ! Her 
mother said such were her fits of rage that she 
would throw herself on a hot stove bearing the 
burns like a stoic. 

What a transformation ! And so I could go on. 
Mr. Devare has each little individual history to 
relate. With him and his devoted wife, it is a 
labor of love. A loving task to perform in the ser- 
vice of their Master. 



GIVE US THE CHILD. 



Signs of danger to our American institutions, 
to religious freedom, to our civil and social well 
being are filling the air and are causing a great 
deal of excitement, stir and perplexity. 

At no time in the history of America have 
minds been more restlessly agitated than at the 
present. 

Every factor of civilized and constitutional 
forces is brought into play to oppose the tide of 
ignorance, anarchy and irreligion that is sweep- 
ing onward. 

One only lasting bulwark is needed to with- 
stand all the assaults ; that is, the right training 
of the children of the overworked, the over- 
crowded, the irresponsible, the ignorant, the 
debased. 

These children must be furnished with elements 
of training and instruction that will supply the 
domestic education of which privilege they are 
robbed by the adverse circumstances surrounding 
their being. 

We talk about the children of the age from 
three to seven, who are left to the tender mercies 
of the street, through the fault of some one whom 
they cannot control. 

These children must be got together, and 
trained in order to become fit subjects for admiss- 
ion into the public schools. In the average life of 
the overworked poor there is no such thing as 
well regulated family life which extends, what 
we understand, a domestic training to the poor 



child. The public schools, as for that matter any 
schools, will be inefficient and entirely so, when 
they have for their material, children, that have 
not been trained in the common rules of domestic 
life. 

An education is the birthright of every child, 
and if the State will not, some one should protect 
the child from the brute instincts of unfaithful 
parentage or shield it against the consequences 
of other cruel circumstances surrounding its 
existence. The fact of infancy entitles every 
child to a training. To this end was he born a 
man and not a brute. If you would know 
the future of this nation look into the faces of 
the thousands of children in the stage of infancy 
huddled around our streets. Society that would 
abandon them to the whims of accident or fortune 
would be guilty of high treason against humanity. 

Ah, when will we learn, that patriotism like 
religion counts most in the achievements that are 
made in unselfish toils, in abandonment of self to 
faith in the great work of training the child. 

We will often follow the sinner from crime 
unto crime rescuing him again and again, setting 
him on his feet, with great sacrifice of time and 
means ; we take great pride in snatching one of 
them from degradation and set him up in respec- 
tability. This is all right and it is as it ought to 
be. 

But what about the children, are we doing as 
much for them, to prevent them from becoming 
the wrecks and mistakes which we so often 
spend herculean efforts to repair and correct ? 



Mrs. Aldenof the NetvYork Tribune, will please 
accept the assurance of our most grateful appre- 
ciation for the wide and favorable notice she has 
given our work in the Tribune of Feb. 24th. 



The "Abigail" will be found on file at the 
following libraries ; " The General Society of 
Mechanics and Tradesmen, the difi^erent branches 
of N. Y. Free Circulating Library, N. Y. Public 
Library, Mercantile Library, Pratt Institute Free 
Library, Brooklyn, and the Library of Congress." 
Gentlemen, respectively in charge of these insti- 
tutions have kindly acknowledged the receipt of 
regularly mailed copies of the "Abigail." 

We have sent copies to great many other 
libraries and reading-rooms, but we shall discon- 
tinue sending our paper if not acknowledged by 
the parties in charge. 



Subscribe for a copy of "The Abigail" for 
some of your friends ; you will get your full value 
in interesting literature and will help in the work 
at the same time. Subscription price, 50c a year. 



22 



The Abigail 



THE ABRITRAEY ENGLISH LANGUAGE. 



We'll begin with box, and the plural is boxes, 

But the plural of ox should beoxen, not oxes; 

The one fowl is a goose, but two are called geese. 

Yet the plural of moose should never be meese; 

You may find a lone mouse, or a whole nest of mice, 

But the plural of house is houses, not hice; 

If the plural of man is always called men. 

Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen ? 

The cow in the plural may be cows or kine. 

Bat a bow, if repeated, is never called bine; 

And the plural of vow is vows, never vine. 

If I speak of a foot, and you show ine your feet, 

And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet ? 

If one is a tooth, and the whole set are teeth. 

Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth ? 

If the singular is this, and the plural is these. 

Should the plural of kiss ever be nicknamed keese? 

Then one may be that, and three would be those, 

Yet hat in the plural would never be hose; 

And the plural of cat is cats, and not cose. 

We speak of a brother, and also of brethren. 

But though we say mother, we never say methren; 

Then the masculine pronouns are he, his, and him, 

But imagine the feminine she, shis, and shim. 

So the English, I think, you all will agree 

Is the greatest language you ever did see. 

— Comnionwca Ith . 



PLAUSIBLE EXCUSES. 



There is a fine sense of truth not quite reached 
by many who would be very indignant if charged 
with prevaricating ; it lies in the matter of ex- 
cuses and apologies. With many, a good excuse 
is one that satisfies the person to whom it is 
made, without regard to the true satisfaction of 
one's conscience. 

Robert Burdette once said : 

" So you are not going to church this morning, 
my son ? 

" Ah, yes ! I see. ' The music is not good.' 
That's a pity. That's what you go to the church 
for — to hear the music we demand. 

" ' And the pews are not comfortable.' That's 
too bad — the Sabbath is the day of rest, and we 
go to church for repose. The less we do through 
the week, the more rest we clamor for on the 
Sabbath. 

" ' That church is so far away ; it is too far to 
walk, and I detest riding in a street car, and 
they're always crowded on the Sabbath.' This 
is indeed distressing. Sometimes when I think 
how much farther away the kingdom is than the 
church, and that there are no conveyances on 
the road of any description, I wonder how some 
of us are going to get there. 

"'And the sermon is so long always.' All 
these things are indeed to be regretted. I would 
regret them more sincerely, my boy, did I not 
know that you will often squeeze into a stuffed 
street car, with a hundred other men breathing 



an incense of whisky, beer, and tobacco, hang on 
a strap by your eyelids for two miles, and then 
pay fifty cents for the privilege of sitting on a 
rough plank in the hot sun for two hours longer, 
while in the intervals of the game a scratch band 
will blow discordant thunder out of a dozen mis- 
fit horns right into your ears, and come home to 
talk the rest of the family into a state of aural 
paralysis about the ' dandiest game you ever saw 
played on that ground.' 

"Ah, my boy ! you see what staying away 
from church does. It develops a habit of lying. 
There isn't one man in a hundred who could go 
on the witness-stand and give, under oath, the 
same reasons for not going to church that he 
gives to his family every Sunday morning. My 
son, if you didn't think you ought to go you 
wouldn't make any excuses for not going. No 
man apologizes for doing right." 



LINCOLN ON CHAMPAGNE. 



Several times during his Presidency Abraham 
Lincoln had occasion to rebuke the bibulous pro- 
pensities of his governmental associates. One of 
the most effective of these, because administered 
in Lincoln's own inimitable, good-natured way, is 
recounted by General Porter in a reminiscent 
ai'ticle in the Century. 

It was on a trip down the Potomac to visit 
General Grant's army. Lincoln did not feel quite 
well. Perhaps he was a trifle seasick, and he 
said so. In General Porter's words: 

"An officer of the party now saw that an 
opportunity had arisen to make this scene the 
supreme moment of his life, in giving him a 
chance to soothe the digestive organs of the 
Chief Magistrate of the nation. He said : ' Try a 
glass of champagne, Mr. President. That is 
always a certain cure for seasickness.' Mr. Lin- 
coln looked up at him for a moment, his face 
lighting up with a smile, and then remarked : 
' No, my friend ; I have seen too many fellows 
seasick ashore from drinking that very stuff.' " 

This was a settler for the officer, and all present 
joined heartily in the laugh at his expense. 



FOR THE ABIGAIL FREE SCHOOL. 



One of the newest of monthlies is The Abigail, 
a paper devoted to the interests of the Abigail 
Free School and Kindergarten, which, as most 
philanthropically inclined folk know, is at No. 
lOi Sullivan Street, Manhattan Borough. It is 
edited with commendable tact and satisfying in- 
telligence by C. Pr. Devare, who is assisted by 
Mrs. J. V. Dennett, favorably known in kinder- 
garten circles,— iV", Y, Press, March 4th, 



the Abigail 



23 



The following contributions were received through Mrs. Isabella 
G. Stanley since we went to press last. We take pleasure to ack- 
nowledge them with thanks. 

Moore Bros |i ; J. H. Windeland 25c; Chas. F. Nickle |i; Mr. 
Jacobs $1; Woodward Baldwin & Co $5; Irving Aliberg $5; F. 
Bingham 50c; J. W. Sturtevant $1; F. Koehler 25c; Rapp & Speidel 
$2; Schloss & Prate! 25c; G. S. Graves |i; Cohen & Oppenheimer 
$1; Chas. D. Bernheimer $1; Kohn & Rindakopf |;i; Henry Ilecht 
$2; IJardt & Linges $1; W. M. Schroder .$1; Oscar F. Spate |i; 
Matern & Hess$i; Thos. Whittaker i Bible Chart; J. Iluner & Co 
l81bsoat-mcaI; Jacob KuIUr 51b sugar; II. O. Co i case II. O; II. 
M. Anthony & Co; i case cerealine; N. W. Taussig $5; Chas Mc- 
Burney $5; Empire Steam Laundry |i; Mr. Prater 15c; Otto Von 
Ilein $1; Paul Bros 50c; Rubell Bros $2; I.. G, La Roche 25c; Bald- 
win Gleason & Co 50c; Wm. F. Crerand $2; A. W. Faber $2; F. A. 
Geary $1; Wm. Morse $2; Ralli Bros JS5; Mcintosh & Terrio gi; 
Baker, Carver, Morrell $2; Isaiah Josephy fio; Peak, Frean & Co 
I drum mixed crackers; Francis II. Leggett 5olb sugar; E. Polhemus 
bo.K of rubberbands; Wm. C. Popper i M notepaper; Treat & Con- 
vers I piece of muslin; Kemp Day & Co i box canned fruit; Booth & 
Co $5: Greeff & Co fs; Wm. Lucas & Co one-half m letterheads and 
envelopes; 11. II. Kolper fi; D. Gaunt 50c; Wm. Salmon 25c; 
Ilufmann & Elrodt $1: II. Plant $1; Dowel Miller & Co $2; R. 
Seidenberg $1; Butler Hard Rubber Co %;; Chocolat Men'cr. 6 lbs. 
of cocoa; Stephen L. Bartlett, Boston, 50 lbs of coco.n ; Theo, L De 
Vinne &Co. $5; Joseph Ullmann I5; A Friend $5 



THE LITTLE CHILD. 



MEMBERSHIP OP THE ABIGAIL FREE 
SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN. 



¥oT the child, says a distinguished writer in the 
Northwestern Monthly, everything should be a 
religion, book and star, home and school, work 
and play, teacher and companion; heaven should 
entwine and illumine them all. The child is a 
gift of God, as the early Christians, by t.'ieir lov- 
ing names, — Dorothea, Theodorus, Theophania, 
— sought to show, and men and women ought to 
be god-like to receive him. The " Gospel of In- 
fancy " needs not merely a gift of tongues, but 
of heart and soul as well. 



'HE IBIGAIL 



^^isD^f:^ 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 



JUVENILE MISSION WORK. 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

$1.00 per inch per insertion. 
$10.00 per inch per year. 



Rates of Advertising : 



Business and Publication Office : 
104 SULLIVAN STREET, 

Borough of Manliattan, New Yorlt. 



Board of Directors. 
S. S. SwAiM, 25 Park Row, 
H. B. Smith, 1475 Broadway, 
Wm. Baldwin, 150 Eifth Ave., 
Stephen Mereitt, 241 W. 23d. St. 
J. E. Messenger, M. D., 323 W. 19th St. 



Officers. 
J. S. HuYLER, President, 
64 Irving PI. 
Mrs. J. V. Dennett, Treasurer, 
56 W. 96th St. 

Mrs. E. Pr. Devare, General Manager, 
104 Sullivan St. 

C. Pr. Devare, Sec'y and Supt., 
104 Sullivan St. 

Annual Members. 
A. W. Dennett, 

E. J. Brady, 

Ed. Stallknecht, 

Wm. E. Havemeyer, 

G. A. TWELE, 

J. A. Dahn. 



Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Childs, 
B. F. De Klyn, 

L. Klopsch, Ph. D., 
S. B. Close, 

Mrs. J. Wasson, 

Me. & Mrs. B. F. Taylor, 
Mrs. H. B. Smith, 

Mrs. L. S. Smith. 



Supporting Members. 
Chas. L. Tiffany, 

Osw. P. Ottendorper, 

Mrs. F. Swaim Baltimore, 
N. Nielsen, 

Chas. J.' Coulter, 
Jacob Ruppert, 

Mrs. Geo. Ehret 
Clarence Whitman, 

Robt. a. Gallaway, 
H. H. Palmer, 

Edwin J. Gillies, 
Jas. McCreery, 
C. Bruno, 

E. W. Bennett, 

Chas. Henry. 



The Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
child is the father to the man ; and as 
the child is, so in all probability will the man be. 
History and experience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamj) upon the child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carry it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1895. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been i^repared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of $10.00 will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of $25.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship; 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient to respond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1898. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to $500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
■ and Kindergarten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 
II. 

This institution guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 

The School will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for boys and girls. 
V. 

The age at which children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of anj' kind will be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those who 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 

The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industry and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this School will be 
provided each day with a substantial lunch. 
X. 

A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XI. 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 

Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P. M. XIII. 

Sunday School, prepai-atory, is held 10.30 A.M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 P. M. 
XV. 

Every week day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
4 P. M., the School is thrown open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend iDublic 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M. : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-oVers 6.30 P.M. 



r^vve ABia^/^ 



Oije (Jod 



Oije Se|?ooI 




096 Qourjtry 



Oi^e laij^ua^e 



Entered as Second Class matter at the New York, N. Y. Post Office, April 8tli, : 



Vol. I, No. 4. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, May, 1898. 



50c PER Year 



COMMON SENSE IN KINDERGARTENS. 



CHARITY THAT IS LABELLED. 



The Public Education Association Jield its 
regular weekly meeting March 4th, at No. 509 
Fifth Ave., and was addressed by Dr. Jennie C. 
Merrill, Supervisor of Kindergarten Instruction 
in the Public Schools. Dr. Merrill's subject was 
"Our Public Kindergartens," and she spoke 
most encouragingly of their progress and pros- 
pects, 

"Large rooms," she said "are particularly 
needed in New York, because many of the child- 
ren live in such small quarters that they become 
cramped in their movements. Some of them ac- 
tually do not know how ro run. Most of our 
kindergartens have rooms that are nearly all 
that we could wish. Most of them have pianos, 
and many of the teachers show great taste and 
ingenuity in decorating the walls. 

In decorating rooms for the children Dr. Merrill 
thinks that one should come down a little to their 
level, and not try to be too classic. Alluding to 
the idea that beautiful things around them dis- 
tract the attention of children, she quoted Ruskin 
to effect that bare empty rooms cause inattention, 
as the children's minds are then like birds with 
nothing to perch on. 

She we would be sorry, she said, if the admiss- 
ion of children to the kindergarten at four years 
of age, as they may be under the new charter, 
should lead to their beginning the study of read- 
ing and writing any earlier than they have 
heretofore done. She supported her opinion by 
quoting Plato, and said that on account of his 
appreciation of the importance of play the honor 
of having almost established the kindergarten 
had been claimed for him. 



The " Settlement idea " was the topic for dis- 
cussion at the charity conference held on the 3d 
Tuesday of March. Bishop Potter led the 
discussion. From his many sound and substan- 
tial remarks we gleaned the following : 

"I do not recall an instance," he said, "in 
which Christ ever presented a religious test as a 
condition of doing things for people. His method 
was to establish a point of contact with them, not 
on religious but on human lines. He was made 
flesh and dwelt among them. He went to marri- 
age suppers and even caused great scandal by 
dining with a gentleman whose reputation was 
considered shady. 

" The contrary of this method has always been 
disastrous, and those who blame the Settlement 
for not employing it must do so in entire ignor- 
ance of the history of efforts to serve mankind." 

Another speaker Mr. James B. Reynolds 
followed ; he said that he indorsed everything 
that the Bishop said on this head. There was 
room for just as much religion in Settlement 
work, he thought, as could be carried in the 
heart and made a part of the daily life, but it was 
not necessary to label it. 



Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley who represents the 
Abigail Free School and Kindergarten in outside 
work has kindly undertaken to represent this 
paper in the capacity of business and advertising 
manager; we heartily recommend her to our 
readers and patrons. 



26 



The Abigail 




The Abigail Free School and Kindergarten. 

The above represents the present abode of our 
School. It is one of the old time sijacious build- 
ings, the remains of Sullivan Street's, former 
aristocracy. 

The basement we use for sewing school, dining 
room and kitchen for the children ; the parlor- 
floor is used for school and meeting rooms. 

The larger part of the second floor is used for 
the "Dispensary" and "OflSce," whilst one 
room on this floor and the third floor are 
used for dwelling for the Superintendent, his 
family, and assistant. No room is wasted. A 
dry and high cellar we use for storage room etc. 

When we started the Abigail Free School and 
Kindergarten nine years ago this month we locat- 
ed at 30 Beach Street, from there we were obliged 
to move in the spring of ] 891, the property being 
sold to make room for a large storage building. 

We moved to 243 Spring St., here we remained 
for three years ; the exorbitant rent however 
proved too much for us and in 1894 we moved to 
154 W. Houston St. Here we thought we would 
be secure for some time at least, the property 
being part of a large estate comprising all the 
buildings for blocks around us. But with cliange 
of management of the estate came a change of 
sentiment. In order to make room for a new 
liquor saloon one of those monstrosities called 
" Eaines Law Hotel " we were told that we were 
an obstruction to the welfare of the " Estate " 



which by the way bears the name of the matt 
who was so near becoming the chief magis- 
trate of our city last year. 

Well Ave are here now and hope to remain, our 
usefulness has been very much increased, we 
have learned to love the Italian element which 
furnishes a large number of our children. 

Let it be said here, we have found them to be 
possessed of a generous nature plastic to our 
efforts to Americanize them. 

Our work is of great importance, and we do 
believe it an incongruity on behalf of the friends 
and jpublic interested, that we should be, as it 
were, driven from post to pillar on account of 
not having a permanent home. 

A permanent home should be secured for us, 
we believe we will Lave the flrst chance to buy 
this property, when it falls into the market. 

We would like to hear from some of our friends 
and patrons, to know what part they would take, 
if the property suddenly should be offered to us. 



The other day a little sweet fellow who formerly 
posed as something quite different from a cherub, 
addressed the superintendent in a most childish 
way. 

" You know Mr. Devare when you scolded me 
last time," " me mad," devil tell me to call you 
"an old guinea" but God come in my heart 
strong and say, " no ! " devil come again and 
says to me " that old guinea ! " but God get 
stronger, so strong and me not say it, "me like 
you now, even when you punish me." 

Five years old he demonstrates in his own 
unsophisticated way, the practical possibility of 
successful training of the dear little waifs. 

Children of unthinking and unfeeling Ameri- 
can parents have taunted the little fellow with 
being a "guinea," he has seen the contemptuous 
sneer upon those children's face, when they 
uttered the word, the venom of it entered his 
soul and he thought it the most cutting retort to 
make to anybody objectionable to him. 

This boy from untutored surroundings, is 
learning to control himself and will spread his 
lesson home and abroad. 



Our old friend C. W. Ridgeway will please 
accept our thanks and convey same to the S. S. 
authorities of the First East New York Baptist 
Church for their supply of hymn books and S. S. 
literature. 

Our boys have under consideration a plan to 
pay a visit to the Sunday School on Anniversary 
Day and turn out 50 strong in full regalia. 



The Abigail 



27 



THE POOR MAN'S PRAYER. 



We thank thee, Lord, that thou hast sent aniiction to the rich — 
Dyspepsia, gout, insomnia, and other troubles which 
Disturb their souls by day and night, and cause as much or more 
Of real distress than do the ills that thou hast sent the poor. 

We may not have enough to eat. They eat too much, and so 
It's just about an even thing which hath the most of woe. 
We have no time to rest by day. They cannot rest at night. 
So, all in all, it seemeth things are pretty nearly right. 

We can't afford to ride, but there, again, their joy we balk. 
For, oh, thousendest them the gout, and so they cannot walk. 
Thou sendest them rich food and drink, weak stomachs, headaches, 

wealth ; 
To us thou sendest poverty, plain living, toil, and health. 

Oh, glad are we the rich must have while living off the fat, 
llay fever, li'sewise paresis, and lots of things like that. 
And so we're thankful for our joys, the greater part of which 
Is thinking of the many woes thou sendest to the rich. 

— Nixon Waterman. 



ABIGAIL FREE SCHOOL AND KINDER- 
GARTEN. 



attend the public schools, praise meetings, Sun- 
day school and mission work. Everything that 
is done for the child is in a spirit of love, and with 
a determination to remove every sense of depen- 
dence, to stimulate self-respect and a feeling 
of responsibility to society. 

Here is a humble work, yet so far-reaching that 
it affects the entire social structure. There is need 
for money, toys, hymn books, material for sewing 
school, etc. What can you do to help, dear 
reader ? Information as to fees for membership, 
prospectus, and little monthly — The Abigail — 
can be had at the institution on application. 
Officers— President, J. S. Huyler; Treasurer, Mrs. 
J. V. Dennett ; Secretary and Superintendent, C. 
Pr. Devare; General Manager, Mrs. C. Pr. Devare; 
Physician in Charge of Dispensary, Dr. J. E. 
Messenger. 

ABIGAIL HAPPENINGS. 



Harper's Bazar, March 26th 1898. 



Pauperism is a complex problem. It is not to 
be expected that causes can be recognized and 
remedial conditions evolved in a day, but we have 
with us always one far-reaching remedy for this 
ever-existing dependence and inefficiency of the 
poor — the education of the children. 

The "Abigail School" models its methods 
along lines of helpfulness and self-respect. 
Situated in one of the crowded tenement districts 
of New York city — 104 Sullivan Street — it has a 
lield so broad and conditions so unique that only 
an intelligence born of intense sympathy and 
directed by God could evolve and adapt methods 
to meet the need. This need is so variable, that 
"system," that pet of the one-sided, is scarcely 
possible ; but the value of a good foundation for 
the afterstructure of character enters into and 
pervades all its work. When moral and religious 
influences are neglected in the children of com- 
fortable homes, how terrible are the results ! 
What, then, can be hoped for the future manhood 
and womanhood of these veritable children of 
the street who absorb their ideas of life from its 
vicious atmosphere and in the degradation of the 
places they call home ? 

It is to these little waifs that the Abigail School 
extends the comforts and influences of home, 
discipline in courtesy and habits of cleanliness, pre. 
paration for public school, and,above and through 
all, love for God and country. This branch of 
the work is for children from three to seven years 
of age, who may come at 7.30 a. m. and remain 
until-6.30 p. M. if the mothers are working. This 
is supplemented by a sewing-school for girls who 



One of our little fellows attending the primary 
department of a neighboring public school came 
running to us with his ticket for good conduct. 

After the usual salutations^ exchanged and 
questions asked, the little. man said: "Oh! Mr. 
Devare all the ma'ams" are put out of the school 
they are all put away; they are no more allowed 
in the school." 

"What do you mean James?" "What do I mean, 
well I mean the principal Mrs. Rogers has told us 
that we must no more say yes ma'ams! no ma'ams! 
but we must say yes teacher ! and no teacher !" 

The ma'ams and the misses are no more ! We 
thought this about the most refreshing thing that 
has come under our notice for some time and 
reproduce it for our readers enjoyment. 



Six pairs of tamed pigeons will comprise the 
animal portion of the attractions in the school 
yard. The " Board of Health " of the Health De- 
partment of the Borough of Manhattan has not 
objected, not withstanding the complaint of some 
malicious person. When the little ones heard 
that they were allowed to keep their pigeons, 
they gave three ringing cheers for the " Board 
of Health." 



The following boys and girls have been awarded prizes for regular 
attendance at praise meetings and Sunday School during the quarter 
just past. 

Nellie Sullivan, John Labrovico, Fred Whalen, Dominic Labrovico^ 
Nellie Stryker, Celesta Carrara, Lilly Abigail Sullivan, Daniel De 
Yorrio, John Whalen, Dora Roma, George Wolfangel, Francis De 
Yoriio, Henry Stryker, Gracie Roma, Kathleen O'SuUivan, Lucy 
Yori, Bertie Stryker, Kate Mungo, Kate Arrata, Ed. O'SulIivan, 
Mary Mungo, Sophia Schroder, Rosie Mungo, Francis Appichini, 
Lucien Denny, Christopher Rossi, Emil Christ, Antoinetta De 
Muccio, Constant Denny, James Tassi, Annie Tassi, Nicholas 
Mungo, Moses Betow, Ed. Haager. 



28 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 

C. Pr. DEVARE, Editor. Mrs. J. V. DENNETT, Assistant Editor. 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, soc Per Year. 5 cents Per Copy. 



All Coramuiilcallons, Subscriptions, etc., should be sent to tbe Edi- 
tor, 101 Sullivan Street, Borough of Manhattan, N. Y. City. 



" Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid tliem 
not." Luke XVIII., i6. 

New York, May 1st, 189S. 

EDITORIAL. 

AN UNSHACKLED FAITH ESSENTIAL TO 
CHILD-GROWTH. 



The antagonism between science and faith 
has become lately an agreeable subject for the 
adversaries of religion in common. 

Faith, they are heard to say, is the inaction of 
darkness whilst science is an effort towards 
light. Again we hear science unites mankind 
whilst faith is dividing it ; faith fits well enough 
the infancy of man and humanity,whilst science 
is the fruit of maturity in man, when nations 
arrive at a certain state of development and 
social progress. 

To all this we say that faith purely and proper- 
ly understood, free from all suggestions by 
human and interested agencies is the bond that 
unites us in an intelligent manner and fits us for 
the task of mastering and not blindly serving 
science. Science, unless the handmaiden of pure 
and unadulterated faith, will prostitute our 
intellect and lead us into abnormities unworthy 
of the purpose for which we exist and rank above 
the brute creation. 

No ! gentlemen of the "sceptic circle " faith is 
not merely the sluggishness of a blind credulity ; 
faith does not subject reason to an eternal infancy, 
faith, pure and spiritual, does not precipitate 
people into discord and hatred. 

No ! Faith is the repose of the soul in certitude, 
not a certitude derived from moral or human in- 
strumentalities, but only from direct spiritual 
contact with the Primeval. 

This certitude,is immovable, rational, universal 
upon all problems which might torment it in its 
most intimate recesses. 

This repose will bear the best of results, for 
peace, security, serenity of soul increase and 



multiply the capacity for work and study. 

The field of science lies unobstructedly open to 
the man of faith. 

Oh how eminently necessary therefore is it to 
bring up the child with this consciousness, deeply 
engrafted upon its make up, that he is respon- 
sible for all his acts, for his life, for the use of 
things put at his disposal, to His Creator and to 
Him alone. This indeed is pure faith ! Elimin- 
nate from his mind all reference to any earthly 
instrumentality as the sponsors for his life and 
acts, except accessory or subordinate. 

Then we will raise men and women, whose 
intellects, freed from the barnacles of corporate 
conceptions and incongruities, will be as giants 
to wrestle Avith the problems of science to the 
glory of Him who created both. 



POOR CHILDREN OF THE STREET. 

LET us take a glimpse at the early life of our 
children in the tenement districts, whom 
the unthinking call gamins or street urchins. 

As soon as they are able to creep down stairs, 
they are left for the greater part of the day upon 
the sidewalks and streets to amuse themselves. 

The father is at work, and often the mother 
also, she closes up the house and leaves 
the children with those of the neighbors. 
In many instances the father is out of work, the 
mother must then work ; father is hanging 
around the docks for a job ; children are upon 
the street. 

Again the father might be at work, the mother 
is busy gossiping with the neighbors ; they are 
exchanging compliments with refreshments 
added ; the poor children in that case must go on 
the street What is the use of multiplying con- 
ditions, every thinking man and woman, who 
is not entirely lost in self, knows about the precar- 
ious conditions of domestic life among the 
average tenement house population. 

The poor children are left to the influence of 
the street all day, are huddled off to bed in the 
evening and turned out again in the morning. 

This goes on until the children have grown old 
enough for school. 

A tremendous effort is now made by the parents, 
the boy of seven years of age is made ready to 
go to school. 

He is admitted to some public-school in the 
neighborhood. Now comes the difficulty. The 
poor boy that has lived on the street for three or 
four years is wild and unmanageable, never had 
he any kindness, that begets kindness, shown to 
him, hustled aside by daily passing throngs, who 
considered and called him a nuisance, etc., he 
has come to the conclusion, that well-dressed 
people are his enemies. 



The Abigail 



29 



The street has set his little braiii wild with 
excitement and dissipation^, his mouth is filled 
with coarsest language and obscene songs. 

To put three or four of such boys in a class of 
about fifty children under the charge of one 
teacher, is enough to break the class up entirely. 

The street educated boys are reprimanded, pun- 
ished, kept in, sent for by truant officers, sent to 
the principal, at last dismissed from school. 

The devil's battle is won; the boy is disgusted; 
no more school for him ; he leads a roving life 
through the streets, stealing, housebreaking, 
brought to the Gerry society, put away, comes 
back after a few years cowed down for the nonce 
but unchanged, sent to Elmira, in most instances 
lost to society and to God. 

Why ? Because thei-e was nothing in him to 
grow ! No seed was planted in the virgin soil ! 
Who is responsible ? 

Let us ask the dear reader if he has not dis- 
covered in what we have just said, some of his 
own thoughts which have intensely occupied his 
mind. 

Yes, indeed, in order to make our dear land 
better, fit it for God, wo must get in touch with 
the children, the future men and women. 

The " Abigail Free School and Kindergarten," 
has carried on for nine years the work of looking 
after the children referred to. 

In this institution, which is carried on under 
strictly unsectarian and American principles,chil- 
dren from three to seven years of age are received. 
They are taught manners and cleanliness,they are 
taught a.bout Jesus, and have their little hearts 
filled with Him, to whom they look as their only 
Mediator with God their father. 

They are just given enough instruction so as 
not to crowd them, but merely to wake up their 
little minds, ready for the lessons of the public 
schools. 

One feature of the school is that the children 
after having gone through their training and 
been admitted to public school, come after the 
close of the latter to spend some time at the old 
place in singing hymns and listening to moral 
and patriotic instructions. At night they have 
praise-meetings, rescue meetings for boys, led by 
boys ; they also have sewing schools for girls 
under 14 years of age, who must be pupils of a 
public school, also a Sunday school. 

It is just one of such schools that is needed in 
every down-town ward to meet the great want of 
the day, and it requires a great deal of self-denial 
to carry on a work of that kind, but its success is 
assured. 

The school needs help and encouragement, we 
recommend the work to our readers, let those 
who are in reach visit it ; those who are interest- 
ed let them contribute their share of their mite to 
it ; by conferring with the superintendent they 
will learn how to be of use to the cause. 



MARY'S LETTER. 



SHE HAD ACQUIRED THE HABIT OP AMPLIFYING OR 
WAS INCORRECTLY INFORMED. 



"I'm really afraid that Mary has yielded to the 
very enticing sin of exaggeration," said a dear old 
grandmother of Piety Hill as she wiped her glass- 
es preparatory to reading tlie letter more carefully. 
" I know that she is spirited, pretty, and full of 
life, but she's always been truthful. I'll say 
nothing to her about it till I have talked with 
some of the other Endeavorers who went to Cal- 
ifornia. 

" Why, she says here that the redwood trees 
are so tall that it requires two people to see the 
tops. It doesn't seem possible. And strawber- 
ries as big as pineapples. Who ever heard of the 
like ? Here's something that I'll just refer to the 
professor. He knows all about vegetables and 
agriculture. She says that it requires stump 
pullers to get the beets out of the ground, that 
they roll the pumpkins together with cant hooks 
and then load them on the wagons with derricks, 
that cucumbers grow as long as- fence rails, that 
the wheat fields are as big as Lake Michigan, 
that the threshing machines look like steam- 
boats, and that the horseless ploughs rush along 
like motor cars. It is certainly wonderful beyond 
relief." 

"But don't you see, grandma," broke in one of 
her listeners, "Mary is just chaffing? She pur- 
posely makes stories so big that no one will 
believe them. It's just a satire on the boastful 
claims made for that country out there. You 
know they sell climate by the cubic yard." 

'' No ; Mary has either seen these things or 
heard them upon good authority. We must not 
misjudge her. But here is the most remarkable 
tiling yet. She says that a large watermelon 
burst just before they reached there and washed 
away quite a stretch of railroad track. Dear ! 
Dear ! I'll be glad to have her safe home with us 
again. I feel very certain that some one mislead 
Mary in regard to the watermelon. She knows 
so little of the world." — From Aunt Joe's Waste- 
basket. 

The attractions in our yard this Summer are 
four swings erected by our practical assistant 
"John Luhrs." The little ones have already 
commenced to enjoy them during their outside 
play hours. 

John is also erecting a horizontal bar for the 
little ones to stretch their cramped limbs. 



Subscribe for a copy of "The Abigail " for 
some of your friends; you will get your full value 
in interesting literature and will help in tlie work 
at the same time. Subscription price, 50c a year. 



31 



The Abigail 




The picture marked with an X represents Mary Ferrara. 



Mary Ferrara of 37 Sullivan Street, one of our 
dear little ones has last month, gone to the 
brighter home for which, young as she was, she 
had been yearning. 

The dear little girl was seven years of age, she 
had attended at the school for about two years 
and had endeared herself to us all. 

On Friday March 25th, little Mary sat in her 
poor and contracted home singing a lullaby to 
her rag-doll, when a spark flew out of the stove 
and set her dress on fire. 

She jumped up and screamed, ran to an open 
window to the fire escape, and before the loving 
hands of mother and sisters managed to control 
her, she was frightfully burned. 

Poor little Mary was taken to St. Vincent's 
Hospital, where she expired after some hours of 
acute suffering. 

The only audible words amidst her moans were, 
" oh take me to heaven ! " "I want to go to the 
city of gold " " I want palms of victory." 

Astonishing words were these around the pre- 
cincts of "St. Vincent's" but they were the 
echoes of the songs poor little Mary was used to 
sing so heartily in the school. 

Her little shrivelled body was laid away on 
Monday March 28th, Mrs. Devare accompanied 
by John Luhrs and a deputation of little ones 
went to the funeral services and laid a wreath of 
lillies and roses upon the coffin that held the 
shell in which our sweet little Mary had lived. 

Rev. Vito L. Calabrese, the Italian Missionary 
from Bleecker Street, at the request of the Super- 
intendent, who was sick and unable to leave the 



house, read the funeral service and said some 
loving and pathetic words to the parents, relat- 
ions and friends assembled at the funeral. 

Our heart aches writing this, it seems selfish, 
but we cannot help it, we do love our little ones 
intensely, ah ! and how they do love us in return. 

Little Mary is with little Blizzard Soper, Fritzie 
Schmidt and many others whose little lives we 
have been privileged to guide to their heavenly 
homes. 



CARELESSNESS TO HOME DUTIES AN ILL- 
SMELLING OFFERING TO GOD. 

Let us guard against the inconsistencies of our 
private life. The child of religious parents 
becomes habituated to their use of expressions in 
public which betoken the highest degree of 
holiness, and is therefore quicker to notice any 
inconsistency in temper or walk. Is there not a 
subtle temptation also for those who work much 
for God in public to feel that a certain laxity is 
permissible in the home ? Will not late after 
meetings at night compensate for indolence in 
the morning, and will not protracted services be 
the equivalent for private prayer ? May not 
irritability to servants or children be accounted 
for by the overstrain of our great Avork ? Hence, 
inconsistency and failure to realize our lofty aims, 
which are quickly noticed by children, and beget 
distaste for our religion. 

Let us guard against absorption in public relig- 
ious duty to the neglect of the home. Does it- 



The Abigail 



46 



never happen that the children of religious 
parents are put to bed by nurses who are heedless 
of their prayers, because their mothers have 
undertaken a mission ? Do not boys sometimes 
grow up without the correcting influence of the 
father's character, because he, good man, is so 
taken up with committees ? Keep other vine- 
yards if you will, but do not neglect your own. — 
F. B. M. 



The following contributions were received throug-h Mrs. Isabella G. 
Stanley since we went to press last. We take pleasure to acknowledge 
them with thanks. 

Ph Schulang 50c; D. n. McConnellfi; Henry Frank $1; Chas. 
Wood 50c; Dryfoos Bloom & Co $r; M. Delano & Co $1; Alfred 
Peats $5; F. Ansley $1; W. L. Wellington $2; Leopold Weil $1; 
Schiff Jordan & Co fi; A. BeIler&Co|i; The Kursheedt Mfg. Co 
$2; P. O. B. 2807 f 5: OttoLohrke&Coiio: S. E. Rose $1: E. 
J. Schaefer $3; S. B. Close $20: J. G. A. Meyer 50c: T. Feigel $1; 
John C. Ryer25c: K. Hornby $1: F. O. Dowd 50c: Passavant & 
Co|i: B. Andrews & Co I2: B. Krause&CoJi: Fiedler & Hanau 
$1: KopsBros|2: Alexander Hofheimer $1: Ed. Lauterbach I5: C. 
V. Peters$5: W. Hausman $1: Parker & Mclntyre $5: O. Maigne 
$1: B. Fischer & Co $5: C. F. Mattelage & Son $2; Pabst Brewing 
Co $2: Koenig & Schuster $1: Theodore Ollesheimer & Bros 2 
hampers: Vapo Cresoline Co 3 vaporizers and cresoline: H. Siegbert 
36 yards butter-cloth : Hodgeman Rubber Co one bo.x rubber bands: 
John K. Wampole & Co one doz prep, cod liver oil: Rockwood & Co 
Solbs cocoa: The Wallace Food Co., i case soluble food; Mrs. J. H. 
Haggerty, $1.00: J. Gould's Sons, 10 lbs tea, Dr. Quadrup, Denmark 



•^:>fHE Abigail :i 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 

JUVENILE MISSION WORK. 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

$1.00 per inch per insertldilt 



Rates of Advertising : 



$10.00 per Inch per year. 



Business and Publication Office : 

10A SULLIVAN STREET, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York. 



MEMBERSHIP OF THE ABIGAIL FREE 
SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN. 



Board op Directors. 
S. S. SwAiM, 25 Park Row, 
H. B. Smith, 1475 Broadway, 
Wm. Baldwin, 150 Fifth Ave., 
Stephen Merritt, 241 W. 23d. St. 
J. E. Messenger, M. D., 323 W. 19th St. 



Officers. 
J. S. Huyler, President, 
64 Irving PI. 
Mrs. J. V. Dennett, Treasurer, 
56 W. 96th St. 
Mrs. E. Pk. Devare, General Manager, 
104 Sullivan St. 

C. Pr. Devare, Sec'y and Supt., 
104 Sullivan St. 

Annual Members. 
A. W. Dennett, 

E. J. Brady, 

Ed. Stallknecht, 

Wm. F. Havemeyee, 
G. A. Twele, 

J. A. Dahn. 



Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Childs, 
B. F. De Klyn, 

L. Klopsch, Ph. D., 
S. B. Close, 

Mrs. J. Wasson, 

Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Taylor, 
Mrs. H. B. Smith, 

Mrs. L. S. Smith. 

Supporting Members. 

Chas. L. Tiffany, 

Osw. P. Ottendorfer, 

Mrs. F. Swaim Baltimore, 

N. Nielsen, 

Chas. J. Coulter, 

Jacob Ruppeet, 

„ ,„ Mrs. Geo. Eheet 

Claeence Whitman, 

Robt. a. Gallaway, 

H. H. Palmer, 

Edwin J, Gillies, 

Jas. McCreery, 

C. Bruno, 

E. W. Bennett, 

Chas. Heney. 



32 



The Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
child is the father to the man; and as 
the child is, so in all probability will the man be. 
History and experience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon the child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carry it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1895. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of SIO.OO will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of $35.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient to respond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1898. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to $500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 
II. 

This institution guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 

The School will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for boys and girls. 
V. 

The age at which children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind will be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those who 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VIL 

The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industry and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this School will be 
provided each day with a substantial lunch. 
X. 

A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 

Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P. M. XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory, is held 10.30 A.M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 P„ M. 
XV. 

Every week day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
4 P. M., the School is thrown open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend public 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M. : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs 6.30 P.M. 



r^HB ABia^,^ 



096 (Jod 



Oije Sel;jooI 




Oi}e Qouijtry 



Oije 1^9§ua§e 



Entered as Second Class matter at the Kew York, N. Y. Tost Office, April 8tli, 1808. 



Vol. I, No. 5. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, June, 1898. 



50c PER Year 



PATRIOTIC SINGING. 



It is a notable fact that a great many of our 
grown people do not know the words of any of 
our patriotic hymns and songs. 

In spontaneous congregations it is almost 
impossible to find a sufficient number who can 
sing through the stanzas of " the Star Spangled 
Banner," or, "Hail Columbia." They are able 
to join in the chorus and that is almost all. Even 
in formal and closed assemblies such as church- 
meetings and society-gatherings, we have 
found a notable dearth of familiarity with the 
words in the songs of our fathers. 

Only a few days ago we were told by the Press 
of the city, that at a clerical banquet during the 
speech-making one of the 700 banqueters struck 
up the refrain : " Three cheers for the red, white 
and blue, the Army and Navy forever." The 
report says that it was repeated three or four 
times. 

Why not sing the whole hymn, and com- 
mence with "Hail Columbia, the Gem of the 
Ocean? " 

Yes ! why not ! 

Let us be ashamed of our carelessness, let us 
older ones turn over a new leaf and learn by 
heart at least one or three of our glorious hymns. 

Let us see to it that our young children, learn 
to sing patriotic hymns and acquire a taste for 
singing them. 

The unification of Germany, the restoration 
of the German Empire, would never have be- 
come even a possibility among so many other- 
wise discordant elements, had it not been for the 
great inspiring song : " What is the German's 
Fatherland" being taught the child from his 



tottering steps and lisping tongue until his man- 
hood. 

It has been truly said by one of our own great 
warriors, that the songs of a nation shape its 
destinies. 

This is why we at the "Abigail " give so much 
time to patriotic talk and patriotic singing. 



IN THE CHILD LIES THE SOLUTION OF 
THE FUTURE. 



What should we not be ready to do for our 
children. The child that is our future Zion, our 
future nation. 

We must get at the little ones, before their 
reason gets fully developed, we must lay in their 
hearts the foundation for a feeling of responsi- 
bility to God for all their acts. Just as much of 
this as their little minds can grasp and no more ! 
This will be their start for civilization and 
religion. 

Such seed planted in their little hearts will not 
perish, though the world with its opposition 
will go to pieces. 

Such work requires faith in the Master and 
self-denial on the part of him who does it. 

Not much of eclat will accompany such work, 
and you know, the human heart, even when re- 
posing upon pulpit cushions and lingering for 
ecclesiastical approval and perfection, is only 
too often chasing the rainbows of glory and 
applause. 

Yet it is worth foregoing all these things, when 
we remember that the child holds the solution 
of all our cherished problems. 



34 



The Abigail 



.??^'.«^"w 




Mrs. Abigail Huyler. 

1 he Abigail Free School and Kindergarten was 
was founded and opened on May 24th, 1889, in 
the 5th Ward of this city at number 30 Beach 
Street. 

Mr. J. S. Huyler, in conjunction with C. Pr. 
Devare, after a good deal of praying and consult- 
ing undertook this eminently fundamental work. 
The writer remembers well some of the thoughts 
suggested to him by Mr. Huyler, when the advis- 
ability of starting this work was under their con- 
sideration. 

Mr. Huyler had served on various juries dur- 
ing this period. He had been a close observer of 
the cases coming before the judge and jury. He 
was struck by the frequency of criminal cases in 
which young boys of the age of 14 and over 
largely figUi-ed. It grieved his heart to see these 
young boys just at the opening epoch of a useful 
career, nipped in the bud and sent, as bemgs 
dangerous to society, fettered behind the bars 
of penal institutions. 

Kecalling to his memory his own youth, there 
beamed up before him the picture of a dearly be- 
loved father, a godly man, and of a not less[dear- 
ly beloved godly mother. He began to think of 
their tender care over him, he heard again their 
holy counsels; the admonitions and the godly 
examples of both i^assed like visions before his 
mind. He recalled the occasions when the world 
had made the most strenuous efforts to lead him 
off from the path laid out for him by those his 
godly counsellors and preceptors. He recalled the 
period in his life when this very remembrance 
caused him to stop, to check himself and with 
aching heart and eyes bedimmed with tears 
to look up to the Master and say, I will serve 
Thee and love JThee as they do and did. He 
then compared his lot with that of those 



poor wretched boys before him, that were led 
away to the doom of Ostracism of society. He 
said'to himself : "if these poor wretches would 
have had such a mother, such a father as I had 
been blessed with, what possible change might 
not have taken place in their young lives." Com- 
municating these sentiments to the writer, they 
both came to this conclusion, that the average 
children of the poor were deprived by unfortunate 
circumstances of a domestic education in their 
earliest youth, that domestic training which in 
most cases serves as a safeguard against the 
arduous assaults of sin and temptation, the spirit 
of a sinful world. 

We then in ^the name of God opened the 
Abigail-School. Here we receive children from 
three to seven years of age we teach them 
manners, cleanliness, we teach them and fill 
their little hearts with love for their Creator, 
who alone has a right to demand a responsibility 
for their acts from them. 

We give the older ones a few object lessons in 
natural history and so on, we teach them the a, 
b, c, and numbers. We give them just enough 
instruction so as not to crowd them, but merely 
to waken up their little minds, ready for the les- 
sons of the public schools. 

The Abigail School named after Mr. Huyler 's 
saintly Mother "Abigail" does not take any 
merit to itself but refers it all to "Him" who is 
its leading spirit. 

We feel that the work will appeal to your 
heart and mind, and ask you to think over it, we 
will be glad to hear from any of our readers at 
any time and receive a visit from them, that 
they might make themselves familiar with our 
methods. 

Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley who represents the 
Abigail Free School and Kindergarten in outside 
work has kindly undertaken to represent this 
paper in the capacity of business and advertising 
manager; we heartily recommend her to our 
readers and patrons. 

FOOD can be greatly improved by Steam Cooking. 




You can see by the cut on the left that the spring valve retains 
the steam to a pressure of about four pounds to the square inch, if the 
pressure gets higher, the safety valve allows the steam to escape, that 
gives you a high temperature of 235°. 

These vessels are used for cooking Meats, Soups, Fruits and 
Vegetables, as well as Cereals. 

Send for illustrated descriptive circular. 

A. MAJOR, 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 



The Abigail 



35 



FLAGS FOE OUR CHILDEEN. 



Our old friend, Mr. S. S. Swaim, sent us 
at the beginning of the war a lot of pin-flags for 
our children. If he could have seen the young- 
sters decorated with them on leaving the school, 
their little breasts protruding, it would have done 
him good, a sight which he would long remember. 

Our supply, large as it was has long since given 
out, we have since bought a few thousand 3x4 flags 
and given them to the children every third day 
or so to take to their homes and carry through 
the streets. 

It is amazing to see the amount of patriotism 
this flag-presenting has engendered in the hearts 
of the little ones. 

They proudly swing them and sing " the Star- 
Spangled Banner " on their way home from 
school. 

We hear a great deal of complaints about hood- 
lumism npon our streets; we are willing to admit 
the justice of the complaint. 

But one of the sure preventives is patriotism 
instilled into the hearts of our children. 

Religion without patriotism is a parody, as 
patriotism without religion is a hollow mockery. 

Teach our children, that they are patriots, teach 
them that religion places this responsibility upon 
them, and you will find that you infuse into the 
component parts of the future men and women 
something which neither a Most, nor an Ingersoll, 
nor the extremes to both these destroyers will 
ever be able to efface, a something which will 
infallibly ennoble them and prepare them for the 
greatest modern dignity, true American citizen- 
ship. .-. 

GUARD MOUNT. 



Since war has been declared the little ones are 
jealously guarding the school against possible en- 
trance of any of the enemy's emissaries. 

A regular guard-mount is arranged every day; 
a sentry is placed in the main-hall, whose duty it 
is to challenge everybody seeking admission. 
American is the watch-word ! The comer is met 
with the following challenge "are you a Spaniard 
or an American," if the answer is satisfactory he 
is admitted. 

If he is not ready to declare his Americanism, 
he is debarred from entering; a wire-screen-door 
is between him and the sentry. 

The little fellows enjoy the thing hugely, they 
are quite in earnest as to the power and the re- 
sponsibility confided to them. 

The eagerness with which they crave an ap- 
pointment to the guard for the day is amusing. 

They will never forget that during the Spanish 
war they were entrusted with the safe-keeping 
of the Abigail School. 

It is only a wee tiny little spark this, but it will 
enkindle in due time a fire of burning patriotism 
m the little hearts of our little men and women. 



This is what the N. Y. Tribune of May 9th, says 
about the same subject. 

The war enthusiasm has touched the littl epeo- 
ple of the Abigail School, No. 104 Sullivan Street, 
and recent events have proved that the constant 
instructions in the duties of American citizenship 
have borne their legitimate fruits. The hymn, 
"My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and the glorious 
"Star Spangled Banner" are favorite songs among 
the children, and are sung with a vim and an 
air of appreciation never before noticed. Some 
of the small urchins, not more than seven years 
old, have constituted themselves a guard for the 
school, and are " on duty " all day. Every visi- 
tor is challenged. If he is an American, all right, 
but woe to the stranger whose political senti- 
ments are doubtful, for he finds no open sesame 
for admittance. The funniest part of the pro- 
ceeding is that the little fellows actually fancy 
themselves redoubtable protectors. 

"Significant indeed," said a teacher, "are these 
various phases of patriotism, when seen among 
these neglected and too often despised waifs of 
the city." 



BRAVE WILLIAM ANTHONY. 



Our little ones are instructed that their ideal 
for true American, civil and religious duty is the 
conduct of " William Anthony " the Marine, who 
was the orderly to Captian Sigsbee, of the ill- 
fated " Maine." 

Whilst the ship was careening and settling, 
whilst the air around him resembled an inferno, 
amidst the shrieks of the dying, surrounded 
by debris of ship and cannon flying in the air, 
assailed by a shower of missiles of all de- 
scription, deafened almost by the roar and thun- 
der of explosions, he " William Anthony " stood 
at the door of his Captain's room on the set- 
tling ship, in the attitude of saluting his superior 
officer, and said : " I have to report to you sir 
that our ship is blown up and is sinking." 

There he stood, awaiting his Captain's orders. 
The type of a true American, a true soldier, a 
true child of God. 

No Tennyson will sing his glory, but America 
will not soon forget him. 

The Abigail's children will have his name en- 
graved upon their hearts and minds for future 
reference in their own life. 

Cool and intrepid George Dewey at Manilla, 
William Anthony of the Maine, in treacherous 
Havana Harbor, covering the extreme ranks of 
our Navy. 

Such are the ideals for the upbuilding of 
patriotism in the hearts of our childrens. 



36 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 

C. Pr, DEVARE, Editor, Mrs. J. V. DENNETT, Assistant Editor. 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, 50c Per Year. S cents Per Copy. 



All Commuulcations, Subscriptions, etc., should be sent to tbe Edi- 
tor, 104 Sullivan Street, Borough of Manhattan, N. Y. City. 



' Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." Luke XVIll., i6. 

New York, June 1st, 1898. 
EDITOKIAL. 



SCIENCE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN 
FAITH AND RELIGION. 

Natural science is the sanctuary of truth; we 
must see and study it as we see and study the 
sanctuaries of prayer; from the interior to the ex- 
terior, from the base to the summit, in its relations 
and its harmonies. To separate science from the 
universe, from man whom it ought to serve, from 
labor whence it comes, from God where it goes 
and leads, would be to expatriate it, to disfigure 
it, to debase it. 

The relation of natural science and humanity 
is a necessary relation. Science detached from 
humanity would be a means without an end. 
Science for science alone would be equivalent 
to an end without reason for existence. 

Reciprocally considered, humanity separated 
from the science of the world, appears as a great 
big out-work as a kingdom that would consume it. 
self in its push for growth. Some statisticians have 
looked at it thus isolated and have pronounced 
a most monstrous sentence. 

After having recognized the numerical laws of 
the fecundity of human species the geometrical 
law of its extension upon the globe they have 
carried the compass over the planisphere and 
have said: At a certain fatal date, man will 
have burned all the forests, occupied all the open 
lands and savannas, populated the prairies and 
deserts and met at all points the billows of the 
Pacific ocean and thence the icy mountains 
of the polar seas. And then they have added; 
the laws of fecundity proclaim the law of des- 
truction! 

Short-sighted fools ! They see mankind witli- 
out seeing nature's science, the growth of needs 
without the growth of resources; they seem to 



ignore that at the side of the fecundity of man- 
kind, there is fecundity of the earth, fecundity of 
labor, fecundity of intelligence, and the fact, 
that harmony between all these is divinely pre- 
established; they have read the injunction: "in- 
crease and multiply," but they have not read the 

passages. "Take no thought for your life 

behold the fowls of the air ; for they sow not, 
neither do they reap; yet your heavenly father 
feedeth them," they have not read of the lilies 
in the field, about their raiment whose splendor 
Solomon in all his glory could not even equal. 
They do not know, that the stability of the hu- 
man species, notwithstanding its development, 
is as well established as the stability of the 
celestial orbs in spite of their falls and death; 
and lastly that nature serves as an inexhaustible 
supply for humanity in all the ages, that natural 
science is an indefatigable provisor and God an 
infinite Providence. 

Let us give each his desert. Let us honor the 
scientist for his labor, this is but justice, for 
the labor comes from him it is the fruit of his 
daring. But to render him, the honor of 
primity, is a mistake; for the breath that has 
inspired him and the ray which has enlightened 
him do not come from him. Do we praise the ship 
because the wind fills its sails and brings it into 
port ? Do we praise the cloud because the light 
produces in it a rainbow ? The praise and glory 
must reacli higher ! 

Scientific friends! No matter who you are, ele- 
vate your minds and hearts! Above facts and 
phenomena there are principles of truth. Look 
for them and proclaim them. Only guard against 
illusions ; science has only half-light, it is a 
twilight, full day does not light the horizons 
here below Speak ! If your word is the truth, 
it is a sacred song; if it is error, it will be for- 
gotten with you or it will remain as an opprobrium 
attached to your name. Speak and write! Pure 
and unadulteratad religion, religion free from 
the tinkerings of men and corporations, usurping 
supinely or blasphemously powers which God 
has never exercised or manifested to exercise over 
man's mind, religion which is warmed by the 
burning touch of God's love and inspiration, 
such a religion, such a faith has nothing to fear 
from your voice, or from your books, no more 
than the granite of the pyramids has to fear from 
the burning sand of the desert or from the foam 
of the Nile racing over its borders. 

Let the child with the earliest lessons imparted 
to him drink in a love and respect of the scien- 
tific wonders of the age that do appeal to the 
nature of his developing brain and fasten them- 
selves upon his imaginations. 

Let him learn and become accustomed to tlie 
convictions, that in himself is to be found the 
nucleus for the wonders achieved by men of 
science. 



The Abigail 



Z1 



Do not simply load him up with the easy pro- 
cess of referring every thing as to made by God. 

Cultivate, in the infant mind a respect for his 
powers, as the relative powers of men of in- 
telligence and sciejice, you will then have es- 
tablished his reasonings to refer these powers 
as coming from Him, who is the author of his 
intellect, upon the " infallible basis of sound 
logic." 



PRACTICAL CHARITY. 



PATRIOTISM AMONG CHILDREN. 



If you wish to do much good to your fellow- 
men; you have to commence with loving them 
much. Do not believe it is easy to love your 
fellowman, especially to love the poor. There 
is without doubt among mankind a mysterious 
and powerful attraction ; when two human crea- 
tures meet, their looks appeal to each other, 
they naturally gravitate towards one another, it 
may be said that as to their material make-up 
their hands were just ready to clasp. This 
attraction comes from God, who in making us 
all his children, made us all brothers. 

But oh! How the work of God has been spoiled! 

Disfigured by vice, by suffering, by misery, we 
hardly recognize each other, we love each other 
little, we love each other badly. To love the 
poor in spite of their abasement, their rudeness 
and sometimes their vices, and we hasten to add, 
to love them iu spite of our own vices, in spite 
of our pride, in spite of our sensuality, to love 
them with that charity, of which Paul of Tarsus 
speaks, which is kind, patient and humble, which 
is not easily provoked, which thinketh no evil, 
which believeth all things, which hopeth all 
things, which endureth all things, to love thus, 
our love must unceasingly be refreshed at that 
pure and incorruptible fountain, which in Chris- 
tian language is called the love of God. 

To imagine that a certain instinct, otherwise 
respectable enough, or philanthropy, will suffice 
to inspire true devotion to the poor, is one of 
those one thousand Utopias by which modern 
society lives or better to say, of which it is dying. 

Charity is a virtue, a force, a power, and all 
power comes from God. 

To love the poor is therefore the first condition 
for doing them good; the second is to come into 
personal touch with them. 

A beautiful ojjportunity is given to our readers 
to exercise their charity upon the lines laid down 
in the above by connecting themselves in a prac- 
tical manner with the Abigail-School. 



The discovery of a truth by slow, progressive 
meditation is talent. Intuition of the truth, not 
preceded by perceptible meditation, is genius. 



ALTHOUGH familiar enough with the fruits of 
patriotism, how little thought we give to its 
culture ! We are apt to treat it as a plant of 
spontaneous growth— if not an infectious senti- 
ment. Much that passes for patriotism is mere 
brute courage, and a man may serve his country 
quite as nobly though not called upon to "lay 
down his life " for it. True patriotism is a plant 
whose seed should be sown in infancy and matur- 
ed in early manhood or womanhood. 

If, as we believe, God has destined us to be 
leaders among nations it is not sufficient that 
we become useful citizens, we must become vir- 
ile Americans. 

Let us think of what it means to make Ameri- 
cans of the immense foreign element yearly 
dumped upon our shores — ^not by any means the 
best of their kind, 

They must affiliate with us in needs and belief 
and in order to do this they must not only over- 
come previous tastes and prejudices, but must 
learn to understand and love the institutions that 
distinguish us, otherwise they are inimical to our 
safety. 

The man acquires a certain degree of this in 
the crucible of social and business relations, but 
have you thought of the glorious field of work 
among the children ? 

Interested in everything because everything is 
new, reaching out for the very motives for ex- 
istence, impressible and tractable, they constitute 
a soil for the seeds of patriotism the product- 
iveness of which no man can limit. 

This is a part of the work of the " Abigail 
School," and every day proves both its need and 
effectiveness. IJere, under our hands, is the 
ground, fallow and responsive. We sow the seed 
and trust the harvest to that God who has 
brought out of the West a nation that shall carry 
the banner of equal rights and equal oppor- 
tunities in the march of the world's progress. 
The significance of our work comes with peculiar 
force in a crisis like this when we cry out as one 
voice to restrain the cruel policy of a sister nation 
yet have among us a foreign element great 
enough to disrupt us entirely were they all 
ignorant of or opposed to ours. 

If you are among those who think our work 
but a fine theory or that sentiment which proceeds 
from the mouth only, come to the "Abigail 
School" some evening and watch the enthusiasm 
of these little heirs of want and squalor and test 
for yourselves if our forefathers kept step to the 
martial srrains of " Yankee Doodle " with more 
heart and vigor than that with which these little 
people lend themselves to the inspirations of 
glorious old " Star Spangled Banner " and other 
patriotic songs. 

Isabella G. Stanley, 



38 



The Abigail 



TOLD HER SO. 



THE AWKWARD ORDERLY. 



Amid the cares of married life, 
In spite of toil and business strife, 
If you value your sweet wife, 



Tell her so ! 



Prove to her you don't forget 

The bond to which your seal is set ; 

She's, of life's sweets, the sweetest yet — 

Tell her so ! 

When days are dark and deeply blue. 
She has her troubles, same as you ; 
Show her that your love is true^ 

Tell her so ! 
There was time you thought it bliss 
To get the favor of one kiss ; 
A dozen now won't come amiss — 

Tell her so ! 
Your love for her is no mistake — 
You feel it, dreaming, or awake — 
Don't conceal it ! For her sake. 

Tell her so ! 
Don't act, if she has passed her prime. 
As though to please her were a crime ; 
If e'er you loved her, now's the time — 

Tell her so ! 
She'll return, for each caress. 
An hundredfold of tenderness ! 
Hearts like hers were made to bless! 

Tell her so! 
You are hers, aud hers alone; 
Well you know she's all your own; 
Don't wait to " carve it on a stone " — 

Tell her so! 
Never let her heart grow cold — 
• Richer beauties will unfold ; 

She is worth her weight in gold! 

Tell her so! 
-Detroit Free Press. 



VERY FRANK. 



A minister, who once preached in a little out- 
of-the-way town where there was a great deal of 
struggle and hardship to get along, a great deal 
of close-fisted shrewdness, and a great deal of 
poverty, having been there a good many years, 
at last made up his mind to resign, and, to the 
surprise of his congregation, made the following 
announcement one Sunday morning: 

"Brethren and sisters, it seems to me that the 
Lord does not love this people, because He never 
takes any of you to heaven; there hasn't been a 
funeral here for five years. 

"It does not seem to me that you love one 
another, because nobody ever gets married. I 
haven't had a wedding fee for a long time. 

"It doesn't seem to me that you love your min- 
ister, for you never pay his salary in full; you eke 
it out with potatoes and wormy apples, and by 
their fruits ye shall know them. 

"I am going to a better place. I have been ap- 
pointed chaplain to the penitentiary, and I will 
prepare a place for you." — "From Aunt Joe's 
Basket." 



A young wag of an officer, making a morning 
call upon his superior in the latter's tent, found 
him sound asleep, perhaps a little the worse for a 
night's tarrying over the flowing bowl. 

The officer was tall and the cot was short, so 
that his feet stuck out at the foot of the bed. 

Instead of waking him, the visitor took the 
spurs from a pair of boots standing by the bed- 
side, strapped them to the sleeper's ankles and 
went away. 

The officer had pretty well lacerated himself 
about the shins and ankles before he woke up and 
instantly yelled for his orderly. 

" What do you mean by this ? " he screamed 
to the latter, pointing to his feet, which were 
scarred and bleeding. 

The orderly looked at the spurs in consternation. 

"I'll forgive you this time, for you did it in the 
dark," said the officer, " but the next you yank 
my boots and socks off so quick that it leaves my 
spurs on, I'll give you ten days in the guard- 
house, do you hear." — Aunt Joe^s Waste Basket. 



A converted cowboy gave this very sensible 
idea of what religion is: "Lots of folks that 
would like to do right think that servin' the Lord 
means shoutin' themselves hoarse praisin' jhis 
name. Now, I'll tell you how I look at that. I'm 
working here for Jim. Now, if I'd sit around 
the house here, tellin' what a good fellow Jim is, 
and singin' songs to him, and 'gettin' up ^in the 
night to serenade him, I'd be doin' just what lots 
of Christians do, but I wouldn't suit Jim. But 
when I buckle on my straps and hustle among 
the hills and see that Jim's herd is all right and 
not suffering for water and feed, or bein' off the 
range and branded by cattle thieves, then I'm 
servin' Jim as he wants to be served." — Cynosure. 



Taste is the tact of the mind. 

Distrust him who talks much of his honesty. 

Politeness is a wreath of flowers that adorns 
the world. 

Beauty, without modesty, is like a flower bro- 
ken from its stem. 

A KIND word will go farther and strike harder 
than a cannon ball. 

Gravity is the stratagem invented to conceal 
the poverty of the mind. 

He that, by giving a draught of water to a 
thirsty person, should expect to be paid with a 
good plantation, would be modest in his demands 
compared with those who think they deserve 
heaven for the little good they do on earth. 



The Abigail 



39 



The following Contributions were received since we last went to 
press. We take pleasure in acknowledging same with thanks. 

Mrs. Haggerty $1; Rev. S. L. Osborne, D.D., Newark, $io: A. 
G. Hyde & Son $io: G. F. Si: Bennett Sloan & Co. islbs coffee: 
Enos F. Jones Chemical Co. i bar castile soap: H. O. Wilbur & Sons 
61bs coffee: Brinkerhoff & Co. i barrel soda crackers: Feron & Ballou & 
Co. 25lbs prunes: James Pyle I case pearline: Rand, McNally & Co. 
I 12 inch terrestrial globe, Chas. Hauselt I5.00, Seeman Bros., 100 
pounds of sugar. 




Established In 1876. 



MAJGffS CEMENT 



Price, 15c and 25c fer Bottle. 

Specially prepared lor household pnrposes. Mends anything that 

breaks ; Meerschaum, Tipping Billiard Uues. Just the thing 

to fasjen the end of a bandage; also, to stick It 

to the skin to keep it In position. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

A wonderful sticker, No Bicyclist should be without It. For 
repairing Rubber Boots, Shoes, Rubber Garments, Silk Um- 
brellas. 15 CENTS. 
MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT : 

Of surprising adhesive power. Boots and Shoes, and articles of 

Leather. 18 CENTS. 

At Druggists and House Furnishing Stores, or by mail, free of 

postage. 

BEWAEEIII TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE. 

MAJOR CEMENT CO., 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 

Kerby, Watso.m & Co., Montreal. 



^m Abigail* 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 



JUVENILE MISSION WORK. 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

I $1.00 per inch per insertion. 
$10.00 per inch per year. 



business and Publication Office : 
104 SULLIVAN STREET, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York, 



MEMBERSHIP OF THE ABIGAIL FREE 
SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN. 



Board of Directors. 
S. S. SWAIM, 25 Park Row, 
H. B. Smith, 1475 Broadway, 
Wm. Baldwin, 150 Fifth Ave., 
Stephen Merritt, 241 W. 23d. St. 
J. E. Messenger, M. D., 323 W. I9th St. 



Officers. '.. 

J. S. HuYLER, President, ■,. 

64 Irving PI. 
Mrs. J. V. Dennett, Treasurer, 
50 W. 96th St. 

Mrs. E. Pr. Devare, General Manager, 
104 Sullivan St. 

C. Pr. Devare, Sec'y and Supt. 
104 Sullivan St. 



Annual, Members. -^ 

A. W. Dennett, ' ■' 

E. J. Brady, 

Ed. Stallknecht, 

Wm. 1'. Havemeyer, 
G. A. Twele, 

J. A, Dahn. 



Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Childs, 
B. F. De Klyn, 

L. Klopsch, Ph. D., 
S. B. Close, 

Mrs. J. Wasson, 

Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Taylor, 
Mrs. H. B. Smith, 

Mrs. L. S. Smith. 

Supporting Members. 
Chas. L. Tiffany, ' 

Osw. P. Ottendorfer, 

Mrs. F. Swaim Baltimore^ 
N. Nielsen, 

Chas. J. Coulter, 
Jacob Ruppert, 

Mrs. Geo. Ehret 
Clarence Whitman, 
Robt. a. Gallaway, 
H. H. Palmer, 

Edwin J. Gillies, 
Jas. McCreery, 
C. Bruno, 

E. W. Bennett, 

Chas. Henry. 



40 



the Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
child is the father to the man ; and as 
the child is, so in all probability will the man be. 
History and experience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon the child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carry it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their^childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1895. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of $10.00 will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of $35.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient to respond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1898. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to $500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School^ 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. * 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 
11. 

This institution guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 

The School will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for boys and girls. 
V. 

The age at which children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI, 

No charge of any kind will be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those who 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 

The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industry and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 
( The children who attend this School will be 
provided each day with a substantial lunch. 

I ^- 

A record will be kept of all the children, so as 

to have an accurate account of their attendance 

and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a- week. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 

Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P. M. XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory, is held 10.30 A.M. 
during the Summer : 2 P, M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 P„ M. 
XV. 

Every week day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
4 P. M., the School is thrown open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend public 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M. : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs 6.30 P.M. 




Oi^e Sel^ool 



■^voFgo^7 



Entered as Second Class matter at the Kew York, N. Y. Post Office, April 8tli, 



Vol. I, No. 6. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, July, U 



50c PER Year 



"TAKE THE CHILD, WHEN A CHILD." 



Mr. John H. Smyth, President of the Negro 
Rel. Ass'n of Va., said at the '' Cliarities and 
Correction " Conference with justificable bitter- 
ness : " It would be better to kill the unhappy 
children of my race than to wreck their souls by 
herding them in prisons with common and hard- 
ened criminals." But the question of race need 
not enter into the discussion at all. It is abom- 
inable, execrable, that children of any race or of 
any color should be herded with common crimi- 
nals. It is infamous that institutions of the 
erring should be turned into nurseries of crime. 

And it isn't a race question. In the South the 
colored people doubtless have suffered most by a 
penal system which herds the children with the 
hardened offenders, but it is because there the 
colored people furnish the greater number of 
prisoners. White children are depraved and their 
minds debauched in the same way in Northern 
States, for in too many of our communities 
official carelessness has failed to provide separate 
places of commitment for juvenile offenders. 

Better indeed that the children were dead, but 
there is no need to accept that alternative. There 
is no state nor city too poor to supply special 
places of detention for children. Only the in- 
difference and neglect or officials is to blame. 
Let us make it clear that the man who condemns 
a child to associate with criminals is himself a 
criminal, whether he be sheriff, judge or Gov- 
ernor of the State, for he, instead of suppressing 
crime, will be fostering it. 

Yet better than all this is to take the dependent 
child in its moat tender years. If schools like 
the " Abigail " were founded among the negro 



childz-en South and among the white children 
North, this fearful perplexity would be to a very 
large extent diminished. 

Men and women with a good experience in the 
intricate knowledge of human nature with 
enough tact to put themselves aside in the work, 
freed from the fetters of red tape, social or con- 
ventional, placed in charge of such institutions 
would be an inspiration to society, earnestly bent 
upon child saving. 

"WAR JEWELS." 



The Rev. Dr. James M. King, Chaplain of the 
Empire State Society of the Sons of the American 
Revolution, addressed the members on Sunday, 
May 15th. Among other things he said the follow- 
ing, which for eloquence and pathos cannot be 
surpassed. 

" We have invoked the God of Battles. The 
American people have before this learned that 
the God of Revelation is the God of Revolution. 
Patiently, intolerantly, self-sacrificingly and 
prayerfully we must now await the issue, having 
determined what that issue must be. Liberty 
now confronts bondage ; freedom confronts slav- 
ery ; mercy confronts cruelty ; manliness con- 
fronts meanness ; virtue confronts vice ; plenty 
confronts hunger ; thrift confronts poverty ; in- 
telligence confronts ignorance ; civilization con- 
fronts barbarism, and tolerance confronts intol- 
erance. These opposites now face each other 
from yawning cannon. While we are in this 
contest as a Christian people, let us pray for 
principle without passion, for indignation with- 
out anger, for patience without irritability for 
conviction without intolerance, for faith without 
bigotry, for purpose without presumption, for 
courtesy without cringing, and for charity with- 
out malice." 



42 



the Abigaii 




Mr. John S. Huyler, Our President. 
ON PARADE. 

As announced in a previous issue through our 
kind friend Mr. C. H. RidgeAvay we were invited 
by the Sunday School of the First East New York 
Baptist Church to join them in their exercises 
and parade on "Anniversary Day," which took 
place on the last Friday in May. 

Under threatening skies sixty of the children 
of the " Abigail " marched, headed by the " Abi- 
gail Drum Corps '' from the School to the Bridge. 

Pedestrians thronging the streets, when they 
heard the martial beat of the drums and saw the 
big flag and the beautiful banners which with 
the red, white and blue streamers flowing from 
the canes which the paraders carried, crowded 
around the little ones and cheered them as they 
passed. 

When we approached City Hall the crowds 
grew so large, that the police witJi difficulty 
made room for us to pass. 

After a little wait at the Bridge, a large open 
trolley car vvith our friend " Ridge way " on 
board hove in sight ; speedily we boarded the 
car and were whirled over the Bridge and across 
Brooklyn, way out to East New York. 

The children enjoyed the unusual panorama 
presented to them in passing across country 
fields and roads. 

Every cow, goat and horse that was seen graz- 
ing, was cheered by the boys in a way which 
boys only know how to do ; flocks of chickens 
and pullets huddled around hens were objects 
of delight to the children, and they did not fail 
to tell us so. 

Our car stopped a few blocks from the churcli 
in order to give the children an opportunity to 
marcli and show the good people of that neigh- 
borhood what boys from across the river could 
do. 

At the church we Avere most cordiallv received 
by Dr. Baker and his congregation. 

Our children sang a few verses of some pa- 
triotic songs and hymns, and drummed a tune or 
two, which all seemed to be appreciated by the 



Sunday School children and the grown people 
who were present in large numbers. 

After the usual services and addresses, the 
Sunday School formed into line, and with the 
Abigail School and the drum-corps leading, par- 
aded down a few blocks and returned to the 
church. 

On account of the threatening weather Dr. 
Smith, the Superintendent, and the Pastor re- 
solved not to go far from their home to join the 
large parade, but to confine themselves near 
home. 

After the parade the children sat down to ice 
cream and cake. 

This very important part of the day's enter- 
tainment disposed of, the children took posses- 
sion of the large play-ground around the church. 
What a delightful time the youngsters had, 
the church-children in true democrrtic style mix- 
ing in their gambols. 

At 5.30 p. M. attention was called and our child- 
ren, 40 boys and 20 girls got ready for the home 
march. 

It was then that the good people of the First 
East New York Baptist Church outdid themselves 
in their hospitality. They actually stripped their 
church of every flower, and they were most beau- 
tiful, to be distributed among our children. 

The sight of our youngsters literally bedecked 
with flowers was inspiring. 

Amidst cheers upon cheers they fell in line and 
marched away to the block where Mr. Ridgeway 
had the car, that was to take us to Park Row, 
waiting. 

Amidst uproarious cheers for Mr. Ridgeway, 
the congenial friend of our children, the car with 
its cargo of grateful and pleasedAbigailers start- 
ed on the homeward trip. 

After a pleasant and cheering journey we 
arrived at Park Row about 7 o'clock, we found 
the police waiting to lead us home. 

Our home march was a perfect ovation, hun- 
dreds and hundreds of children and grown people 
came out from all directions. They stopped 
to see us pass, wildly cheering the children and 
the mottoes on their banners. Some followed us 
right to our home. 

When we got to Sullivan Street, there was just 
about room for us to march, for both sides of the 
street were packed with people, cheering for the 
School, Mrs. Devare, the teachers and children. 

After exchanging their regalia, etc., for their 
street attire the children went home happy and 
tired, each carrying more flowers than they ever 
had before. 

Dr. Baker, his wife and congregation, our 
good friend Dr. Sidney M. Smith and our old tried 
friend Mr. Ridgeway can hardly realize the im- 
petus for good they have given our children. 
The generous and the so palpably unselfish spirit 
Avith which they treated these hardy youngsters, 
made them feel that what they have been 
taught by their teachers in the "Abigail " about 
this outside world, is true, real and practical. 



The Abigail 



43 



A GOOD SAMARITAN. 



MOUNT LAWN AHOY ! 



Lay him away, 

It matters not where ; 
Dig a hole in the ground, 

And deposit him there; 
'Twill be useless to raise 

A shaft o'er his head. 
For Heaven's aware 

Of the fact that he's dead! 

Lowly his lot, 

And humble his sphere; 
The world — the big, busy world knew not 

That he ever was sent to minister here; 
He gathered no millions, he built up no trusts — 

Cornered no markets, robbed no one of bread; 
His raiment was ragged, he lived upon crusts — 

But Heaven's aware or the fact that he's dead! 

Did he worship in church 

In the orthodox way ? 
Did the rafters ring when 

It was his turn to pray ? 
Alas, I know not — 

But let it be said 
That Heaven's aware 

Of the fact that he's dead ! 

The orphan he fanned 

Through feverish days 
May live or may not 

To cherish his praise; 
The sick he nourished when stricken himself. 

The starving that, when he was hungry, he fed. 
May pray for him now, or may not, as they list — 

But Heaven's aware of the fact that he's dead ! 

Lay him away, 

It matters not where; 
Dig a hole in the earth 

And deposit him there; 
When the last trumpet sounds 

He will hear, he will hear 
As well as the man 

O'er whose head people rear 
The highest of columns — 

Aye, put him to bed! 
If there is a God He will not forget 

That this lowly man lived — and is dead! 

S. E. KiSER, in Cleveland Leader. 

FOOD can be greatly improved by Steam Cooking. 




You can see by the cut on the left that the spring valve retains 
the steam to a pressure of about four pounds to the square inch, if the 
pressure gets higher, the safety valve allows the steam to escape, that 
gives you a high temperature of 235'^. 

These vessels are used for cooking Meats, Soups, Fruits and 
Vegetables, as well as Cereals. 

Send for illustrated descriptive circular. 

A. MAJOR, 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 



Our friend, Dr. Klopsch, the proprietor of the 
Christian Herald, has sent us word that the 
"Abigail School" will again be a welcome 
guest at the Christian Herald's Children's Home. 

We are to start on the last day of June, 25 
strong. The children are on the tip-toe of expec- 
tancy to see who will be first to go. 

As usual our children will go in squads of 30 
and 30 and stay for a 10 day's sojourn. What a 
grand thing this is for the children of the poor, 
of the cramped tenement homes nobody can 
realize unless they have seen the homes and 
also seen Dr. Klopsch's glorious "Mount Lawn." 

The " Christian Herald people " evidently be- 
lieve "in doing it to the least of them," and may 
they fully experience their reward. 



TOUGH EATING FOR BEARS. 



After an object lesson in which a bear figured 
very largely, one of the little ragamuffins ap- 
proached the teacher with the following prattle. 

" Mr. Devare, would a bear eat you if you let 
him alone." He was assured that the bear might 
not touch anyone unless was hungry. 

" I do not think" the little fellow continued, 
" that a bear would eat you, such a big man any 
how, for you would be too tough." "Johnny 
told us he likes little lambs and fellows like me 
best." 

Mr. Devare not being ready to demonstrate the 
truth or falsity of the assertion, no bear being 
at hand, the matter has been hushed up for the 
present. 



^WE STAND BY UNCLE SAM, A MILLION 
BOYS IN BLUE." 



Our friend, Mr. N. Nielsen, has sent us a copy 
of a new song in four stanzas set unto stirring 
music. The song is named, " We Stand by Uncle 
Sam, a Million Boys in Blue," it is full of patriotic 
vigor and fire, it ranks with Bruce's address to 
the Scots. 

Our children are singing it every day with a 
vim that tells of the song's inspiring force. Mr. 
John Volk is the author, he is a naturalized 
American, one of those that adds to the lustre 
and glory of our dear country. 



I HAVE often noticed that a kindly, placid good 
humor is the companion of longevity, and, I 
suspect, frequently the cause of it.— Sir W. Scott. 



44 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 

C. Pr. DEVAI^L, Cdiior. Mrs. J. V. DENNETT, Assistant Editor. 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, 50c Per Y;ar. 5 cents Per Copy. 



All Communications, Subscriptions, etc., should be sent to the Edi- 
tor, 104 Sullivan Street, Borough of Manhattan, N. T. City. 

" Suffer littlechildren to come unto me and forbid them 
not."-Luke XVlll., 16. 



New York, July 1st, 1898. 



EDITORIAL. 



SIMPLICITY m PRIMARY EDUCATION. 



ALL has not yet been said about Primary Educ- 
ation. And suppose all were said, all has 
not been done. It is an inexhaustable subject 
for reflexion. It is an unlimited field for activity 
and zeal, to be demonstrated by effects and not 
merely by theories and garnished phrases. Yet, 
provided we do not convert our words into objects 
of parade and vanity, and provided we believe 
what we say, and confine ourselves to things 
trom application and experience, it may be 
useful to treat within the short limit at our dis- 
posal one of the questions raised by the vast 
problem of primary and moral education. 

Cold blooded pedagogues propound sometimes 
sterile theories upon questions whose elements 
even they do not comprehend. The true teacher, 
the true friend of the child will find his system 
all cut out, his doctrines all formulated, his duties 
all clearly traced in, the words of the golden 
rule " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . . 
and thy neighbor as thyself." 

We need simplicity in our studies, especially in 
our primary education. We hear of loud com- 
plaints that our studies are to-day too compli- 
cated ; if they are not too complicated, they are 
at least enough so, and it would be a totally 
misguided zeal to wish to lumber them with 
additional new elements. 

The system of instruction surcharged from 
year to year, not by the capricious will of 
superior authorities, but by the progress of science 
and the exigencies of the epoch, runs the risk of 
losing that character of simplicity which is so well 
fitted to the first year of child life and which 
facilitates the unobstructed expansion of the 
natural faculties. 



Let us not forget that the essential object of 
elementary instruction is to direct the spontan- 
eous development of the power of the mind. 

The intellect of children is a delicate instru- 
ment, whose every part ought to be harmoniously 
disposed of, rather than tire it or perhaps impair 
it by requiring of it tasks out of proportion to its 
power. 

When we have inspired a scholar with a taste 
for work, for continuous work, for serious and 
conscientious work ; when we have made him 
contract the habit to look at what he sees, to 
listen to what he hears, to reflect upon what he 
knows, to compare, to retain, to reason ; when 
we have taught him to link his ideas in an order- 
ly manner, to express them with clearness ; 
when at last we have awakened in his soul a 
pure and active taste for that which is beautiful, 
simple and right, we have done more for his 
instruction than if we had charged his memory 
with a multitude of words with a multitude of 
facts and even with a multitude of ideas. Let 
us be careful not to confuse the means with the 
end. 

It is not precisely knowledge which makes the 
scholar appreciate the fruits of his study, but the 
power of practically applying this knowledge. 

Let us endeavor always to increase the intrinsic 
power of the mind rather than to embellish it 
with artificial riches of the stereotype order, let 
us remember that the forces of the mind as well 
as those of the body will be only happily and 
solidly developed under the influence of an edec- 
uation, in which all is natural, moderate regular 
and simple. 



DUTY OF THE STATE TO DEPENDENT 
CHILDREN. 



The subject was very broadly discussed at the 
last conference of Charities and Corrections held 
in our city. 

The various sessions were well attended and 
were very interesting. 

The improvement in the methods of caring for 
dependent children were ably expressed, the 
placing out of children in respectable homes was 
warmly advocated in preference to the herding 
system in institutions. 

To us it seemed as though most of the 
efforts in caring for these children, were cor- 
rective ones, preventive only in part, so as to 
arrest the evil that had already been tolerated. 

Little or nothing was said about the preyeii- 
tion, pure and simple. 

The child from its third year to the year which 
renders it fit for the task of public school life, 
seemed to have been overlodoked -by all those 
good people interested in child-saving. --■ -'i. .'' < 



The Abigail 



45 



We took occasion to enter a plea for such child- 
ren, but the very short time allotted to us did 
not permit more than the mention of our plea. 

If society wants sound men and women to take 
up and continue the mission confided to this 
nation, then it must take the child and mould 
it in normal shape. Deformed children have to 
be reformed, and the good results of such refor- 
mation are far down at the bottom of the scale 
of percentage. 

To do such work means a good deal of the 
tinsel of satisfaction and glorification cast aside 
and self thrown after it. 

GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE ! 



The Board of Education met at the peremptory 
call of Mayor Van Wyck on Monday, June 13th, 
and under his direction constituted itself practi- 
cally a "rescue league" for the benefit of the 
children of the tenement districts of Manhattan 
Borough. 

With the sanction of the Mayor it financially 
provided for the scheme which contemplates the 
use of the school buildings below 135th Street, for 
recreation purposes during the summer months. 
In the resolution naming the playgrounds, eigh- 
teen schools appear together with an appropria- 
tion of S15,000. The Board of Education will 
supervise the plan independently, instead of co- 
operating with the Outdoor Recreation League, 
as was proposed. 

The setting aside one of a considerable number 
of schools for recreation purposes under skilled 
direction merely indicates the progress of our 
evolution in these matters from public neglect 
and private charity to a municipal paternalism 
that is consistent with our corporate greatness 
and with the spirit of the age. 

The early realization of this special relief for 
our children is due entirely to the persistent 
manner in which Mayor Van Wyck took hold of 
the idea and forced the Board of Education to 
forego its red tape process of considering and 
deliberating upon its advisability. 



boys going to war, representing our great nation 
whose boast is " Old Gloiy," only one flag, the 
" Stars and Stripes." 

It ought surely not to be such a hardship to be 
consistent- Among our press someone should 
have been found to speak a word in time. 

To allow foreign flags, let they be red, black, 
green or yellow, to be carried by our boys going 
to war and then object to have those same flags 
x-aised in honor of some event connected with the 
memories they represent, is an anamoly of the 
first water. 

Without offense to anybody let us have the 
good taste to insist that " Old Glory " shall not 
be belittled by any display of foreign flags on 
occasions of such national import as the above. 

"THE CHILDREN'S DEPUTY AT SANTIAGO." 



Mr. A. Gilbertson on board U. S. S. Yankee, 
wrote a letter to the children of the school. He 
recited some thrilling experiences which he had 
off: Santiago de Cuba. He told the children that 
he felt the force of their prayers ever since he 
left for the front and exhorted them to keep on 
their patriotic course of singing, praying and be- 
ing good. 

Gilbertson who enlisted as second class seaman 
at the beginning of the war, had his children 
come to the Abigail School, until his wife and 
three of them died about three years ago. He 
has placed his two children with a sister in Nor- 
way, his native country, and is toiling to pre- 
serve a home for them wh«n they are grown up. 
When war was declared he got uneasy, and sur- 
prised us by visiting us at one of our meetings in 
his uniform, to bid us good-bye. Most of the 
children knew him and they cheered him lustily, 
calling him their representative in the war. 

When the children heard the letter read they 
gave three cheers for Gilbertson and the. Yankee, 
and charged us to write a long letter and tell him 
that they will not forget their representative in 
their prayers and that they will be on their good 
behavior, so God will bend to their request. 



ONE FLAG AT ALL TIMES ! 



Last month one of our volunteer regiments 
mustered into the federal army marched down 
Fifth Avenue carrying a foreign flag. Not ono 
of our great newspapers, even not the Tribune 
or the Mail and Express had nerve enough to 
protest against the ridiculousness of such a pro- 
ceeding. 

We make laws preventing foreign flags from be- 
ing hoisted over our public and municipal buildings 
but we offer to our young children the bewilder- 
ing spectacle of a foreign flag being carried by our 



It is a hundred times easier to inflict pain than 
to create pleasure. 

Economy is no disgrace ; it is better living on a 
little than outliving a great deal. 

Opinions founded on prejudice are always sus- 
tained with the greatest violence. 

" I WONDER how the world will get along with- 
out me when I'm gone ? " said a conceited man. 

" Well," responded a friend, " I'll tell you how 
you can have an idea of it. You just go and 
stick the point of a needle in the ocean, and then 
withdraw it, and see how much it is missed."' 



46 



The Abigail 



A KNOCKOUT BLOW. 



HALL CAINE. 



He criticised her puddings and he found fault with her cake; 
He wiihed she'd make such biscuit as his mother used to make; 
She didn't wash the dishes, and she didn't make a stew, 
Nor even mend his stockings, as his mother used to do. 

His mother had six children, but by night her work was done; 
His wife seemed drudging always, yet she only had the one. 
His mother always was well dressed, his wife would be so, too, 
If she would only manage as his mother used to do. 

Ah, well! She was not perfect, though she tried to do her best. 
Until at length she thought her time had come to have a rest; 
So when one day he went the same old rigmarole all through, 
She turned and boxed his ears, just as his mother used to do. 
— From Aunt Joe s Scrap-Beok. 

HIS IMPEISONMENT. 



A case was on trial in a Kentucky court-room. 
An old man of somewhat disreputable appearance 
had just given important testimony, and the 
lawyer whose cause suffered by his statements 
strove in every way to confuse and trip him, but 
in vain. The witness stuck to his story, and did 
not lose his temper in spite of the irritating man- 
ner in which the cross-examination was con- 
ducted. 

Finally, in the hope of breaking down the cred- 
ibility of the witness, the lawyer at a venture 
asked : 

" Have you ever been in prison ? " 

"I have," replied the witness. 

"Ah," exclaimed the attorney, with a triumph- 
ant glance at the jury. " I thought as much. 
May I inquire how long you were there .? " 

"Two years and three months," answered the 
witness quietly, with a manner that was inter- 
preted by the lawyer as indicating chagrin at an 
unexpected exposure. 

" Indeed," said the delighted lawyer, feeling 
his case already won. " That was a heavy sen- 
tence. I trust the jury will note the significance 
of the fact. Now, sir, tell the jury where you 
were confined." 

"In Andersonville," replied the old man, draw- 
ing himself up proudly. 

There was a moment of silence, the jurors 
looked at each other, and then the court-room 
rang with cheers which the court officers were 
powerless to check, and in which some of the 
jury joined. 

The too inquisitive lawyer hardly waited to 
hear the verdict against him. 

— Selected by Aunt Joe. 

Family Physician : " I'm afraid that you have 
been eating too much cake and candy. Let me 
see your tongue." 

Little girl: "Oh, you can look at it, but it won't 
tell ! " 



Hall Caine, the distinguished novelist, attri- 
butes his success in part to the fact that he has 
always been a great reader of the Bible. "I think," 
he says, " that I know my Bible as few literary 
men know it." Indeed, Ruskin has said of Hall 
Caine that he knows it better than any living 
writer of fiction. "My great pleasure on Sun- 
days," says Caine, " is to listen to the rea.ding of 
the Bible in the Church. It is so wonderful, and 
how admirable is also the prayer-book. The Bible 
has for me very much the same appeal that it had 
for Buuyan. There is no book in the world like 
it, and the finest novels ever written fall short in 
interest of any one of the stories it tells. What- 
ever strong situations I have m my books are not 
of my creation, but are taken from the Bible, 
'The Deemster' is the story of the prodigal son. 
'The Bondman' is the story of Esau and Jacob, 
though in my version sympathy attaches to Esau. 
'The Scapegoat' is the story of Eli and his sons, 
but with Samuel as a little girl. 'The Manxman' 
is the story of David and Uriah. My new book 
also comes out of the Bible, from a perfectly 
startling source." 

The above comes from Aunt Joe's corner of 
good things. It seems to us delightful, and a 
tribute of a true woman to the merits of Hall 
Caine. We heard some months ago his name 
and fame aspersed by one of our sensational 
public men for no other reason but because he 
did not use enough of cant to suit this modern 
light of the type that revel in the strained relat- 
ions of a " Uriah Heep," which seems to be the 
only road to success among an unnatural straight 
based orthodoxy or better to say paradoxy. 



HOW TO TELL A NUMBER THOUGHT OF. 



Think of a number, double it; multiply the 
doubled number by 5, give the product, which 
will always be either an or a 5, cut off the last 
figure, and you will have the number first thought 
of. Thus : you think of 4, double it, 8; of course 
you do not state Avhat you have thought of, nor 
what you have doubled. Multiply S by 5, and the 
product is 40, cut off the last figure, and you 
have 4. Aunt Joe wants the larger children to 
cut this out and preserve the memory of it for 
next visit. 

If you cannot do a kind deed, speak a kind 
word ; if you canuot speak a kind word, think a 
kind thought. 

A WELL-KNOWN gentleman, speaking of another 
very conscientious citizen, said that "he was so 
afraid that he would do wrong that he did not 
dare to do right." 



The Abigail 



4^ 



OUR TEACHER'S STAFF. 



The Superintendent, the General Manager, Miss 
E. A. Burd. Drawing, Mrs. I. G. Stanley. Physi- 
cal Culture, Mr. John Luhrs, Boy's Department, 
Miss Clara Ballettieri, GirPs Department. 




Established ia 1876. 



MAJOR'S CEMENT 



Price, 15c and 25c fer Bottle. 

Specially prepared for liousehold pnrposes. Mends anvthinn- tliat 

breaks; Meerschaum, Tipping Billiard Cues. Just the thine 

to f asjen the end of a bandage ; also, to stick it 

to the skin to keep it in position. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

A wonderful sticker. No Bicyclist should be without it For 
repairing Rubber Boots, Shoes, Kubber Garments, Silk Um- 
brellas. 15 CENTS. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

Of surprising adhesive power. Boots and Shoes, and articles of 
Leather. 18 CENTS. 

At Druggists and House Furnishing Stores, or by mail free of 
postage. 

BEH^AREM! TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE 

MAJOR CEMENT CO., 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 

KerBY, WaTSO.\ & Co., Mo.NTKEAL. 



^F[E IbIGAIL» 



A MO.NTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 



-..JUVENILE MISSION WORK... 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

i$i.oo per inch per insertion. 
$10.00 per inch per year. 



- Business and Pubiication Office : 
104 SULLSVAN STREET, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York. 



FREE FOOD FOR SOLDIERS. 



The following orders have been issued to the 
cashiers of Dennett's Dairy Lunch Rooms, at 306 
East Baltimore St. and 312 West Baltimore St., 
Baltimore, Md. 

" You will pass out free any marine or sailor 
wearing the uniform of the United States. 

Signed, S. S. Swaim, General Manager." 

It is understood at the Baltimore lunch rooms 
of this large firm that the orders have been issued 
to their lunch rooms throughout the United 
States. 

A large number of the members of the State 
militia have stopped in these lunch rooms during 
the past few days and have eaten what they 
wanted and passed out. Some have insisted on 
paying for what they got, but their money was 
not accepted. Others have quickly taken in the 
situation and, thanking the cashier, have passed 
out. 

The above comes to us through "The Sun," 
Baltimore, April 30th. 

The same order has been given to all of "Den- 
nett's" lunch rooms in Greater New York. Not 
one of the dailies has given even a passing notice 
of the patriotic act of Mr. S. S. Swaim, the General 
Manager of "Dennett's." 

The Journal of June 5th, could devote nearly 
one whole column to ridiculing "Dennett's" 
methods of having scripture-texts instead of ob- 
scene pictures placed on the walls of their rooms. 
But not a word about the spirit of patriotism 
which is deeper seated than the lips, for it grips 
right into the pocket book. 

Mr. Swaim is one of our directors, we are proud 
of him, we hope he will pardon us, when he sees 
this, for intruding upon his modesty and reserve. 
There is room for men like him right here in New 
York. 



The following contributions were received since we went to press 
last, which we acknowledge with thanks. 

Miss Julia I-athers, 2lbs. calico patches: Siegman & Weil, 2oyds. 
flag-ribbon, loyds flag-bunting: Ault & Wiborg, f i: American Type 
Foundry, $i: Gardiner Binding & Mailing Co. $2: H. W. Winans, 
$1: Wm. H. Jennings, fi: F. M. Lupton & Co. $2: W. H. Lang- 
ley & Co. f 2: G. Eppel & Son, $2: Mayo & Campbell, $2: S. M. C 
*2: W. H. K. $1: F. B. C. $2: A. P. W. $3: S. R. C. I3: L. Win- 
ship, ii: W. Gardam & Son, fi: F. E. Lalley, $2: W. J. B. $1: 
Lawrence & Taylor, $2: Fairchild & Foster, |io; S. Laflin Kellog, 
$ro: Fayerweather & Ladew, $5; S. Bamberger, loyds. flag-ribbon: 
Milton Bradley Co. lot colored paper: II. B. Claflin Co. 94yds. mus- 
lin, 50yds. flag-bunting: J. Brinton White, $10: John Wanamaker, 
$S: Wiley, Brush & Co. i doz. cans preserved fruit: Benj. F. Hooper 
$2: Geo. F. Pelham, $1: Nathan A. Mullin,$r: Chas, E. Spratt, $2: 
Rosenthal Mfg Co. |2; Leo. Schlesinger, $2: Emil Henschel, $1: R. 

C. Mellen, $5: John C. R. Eckerson, $5: Chas. F. Nickel, $1: Maud 

D. Hughes, $1: A. A. Vantine & Co. $2: W. S. Loftus & Co. $2: 
Mr. Wolf, $2: S. Broom, 50c: Keep Mfg. Co. $3: T. Friedlander, 
50c: Jos. Sidel, 25c; G. & D. 15c: R. A. Brown, $2; W. V. Russ, 
5lbs. pigeon feed: John Wakeman, i bag beans: Mitchell Bros. lolbs. 
coffee: Carter's Ink Co. i qt. mucilage: H. H. A. 50c: W. Bouland, 
50c: J. McCreery & Co. $10: John Davis,25c: J. G. $1: Princess of 
Wales Co. $2; C. C. Callman, |i: Snedeker & Eisheimer, |i: W. S. 
B. Heacock, f 2: H. U. Curtis, I2: Chas. E. Goodman, fz: Mr. 
Kahn, |i; Chas. S. Sykes, $1; Mr. Morgan, $1: A. S. & Co. $i: 
Kitzinger & Zelenko. |i: A. S. & M. 50c: J. H. Paton and Mrs. A. 
B. Voorhis, each ibdl. of clothing. 



48 



the Abigail 



WE frequently liear the exisression that the 
cliikl is the father to t!ie man ; and as 
the child is, so in all probability v.-iU the maa be. 
History and experience teach us that tlie first 
impressions made upon the lieart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon the child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carry it safely 
through the shoals and shallo-ws of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the pi'inciple foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable Avaifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

' The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1895. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

Tliat the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on tliis grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of $10.00 will admit j'ou 
as a supporting member. A contribution of §25.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

Wc ask you to read tliis carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient to respond 
with j-oui' sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1898. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to $500 per month: Toys and 
Docks, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



I. 

The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the Avord. 
II. 
This institution guarantees the Avholly unsec- 
tarian character of its Avork. 
III. 
The School Avill be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for boys and girls. 

V. 
The age at Avhich children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind Avill be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those Avho 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 
The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industry and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children Avho attend this School Avill be 
provided each day Avith a substantial lunch. 
X. 
A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend ijublic school, holds sessions 
twice a Aveek. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 
Pi'aise Meetings, conducted l)y the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P. M. XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory, is held 10.30 A.M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 PM. 
XV. 
Every Aveek day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
4 P. M., the School is throAvn open to children 
Avho formerly attended but now attend public 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.3'0 A. M : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs G.30 P.M. 




Oije Sel70oI 



O^e la^^ua^s 



Entered as Second Class matter at the New York, K. Y. Post Office, April 8tli, 



Vol. I, No. 7. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, September, 1898. 



50c PER Year 



POET AND HIS PIPE. 



SOME of his friends taunted Tennyson tliat he 
could never give up tobacco. " Anybody 
can do that," lie said, "if he chooses to do it." 
When his friends still continued to doubt and 
tease him, •''Well, he said, "1 shall give up 
smoking from to-night." That very same even- 
ing I was told that he threw his pipes and tobacco 
out of the window of his bedroom. 

The next day he was most charmiug, though 
somewhat self-righteous. The second day he 
became very moody and captious, the third day 
no one knew what to do with him. But after a 
disturbed night I was told that he got out of bed 
in the morning, went quietly into the garden, 
picked up one of his broken pipes, stuffed it with 
the remains of the tobacco scattered about, and 
then, having had a few puffs, came to breakfast, 
all right again. Nothing was said any more-- 
about giving up tobacco.— i'VoHi Aukl Lang 
Syne. 

This is after all but a very poor showing 
of character strength. 

Yet the poet laureate, that was, when stripped 
down to the naked truth was never given to very 
much exercise of force of character. 

He was everlastingly truckling to royalty and 
the nobility at the expense of truth and sincerity. 
At least such has been the dictum of his 
critics within his own land and class. A slave to 
a habit, is not much of an example for the young 
and old to follow. Great as our rhyming Lord 
waSjhe at best was a slave to self indulgence. We 
cannot see much difference between the immoral 
profligate hiding under phalacteries of modern 
cut, the poor so much abused drunkard and the 



man who has not the moral courage to give up 
any of his pet habits like this Lord his tobacco 
habit. He was not compelled to give up his 
tobacco habit, but after he had made up his mind 
to it so firmly and followed it up with action so 
determinate he had a right to battle his deplorable 
weakness to the end. 

In forming the lives of the little ones under our 
care, we are particular to instil into their hearts 
that a man or a woman can never enjoy the full 
compliment of their God-given privileges unless 
they are able to govern themselves and conse- 
quently govern their habits. To govern and not 
to be governed is the motto of a true man and a 
true woman. 



AUGUST ISSUE OMITTED. 

I We have omitted to publish an issue of our 
pAper for the month of August. 

We have had enquiries from some of our 
friends about it, they have missed the paper 
which they like so much. 

The extreme heat combined with the other in- 
crease of school work and a little worry deter- 
mined us to suspend our paper for that month. 
At our quarterly meeting those of our directors 
that were present advised this course and we 
gladly availed ourselves of their counsel. We 
hope our friends will find in our columns enough 
of interest to make up for the loss. 



Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in 
complaining of the present, and in trembling for 
the future. 




50 



The Abigail 



SENSE AGAINST SENTIMENT. 



Sentiment, like all delicately beautiful things, 
becomes strangely absurd when misplaced. This 
is particularly so of sympathy and its coroUaiy 
charity. Sporadic in their origin, they are often 
so irrationally exercised as to become actual 
sources of evil, fostering and even creating the 
very conditions they claim to cure. 

The sentiment that prompts to " Feed the hun- 
gry and clothe the naked " is noble, since these 
are conditions to be relieved immediately and 
unquestioned, but since all the evil that menaces 
humanity is evolved from its associations, so 
from those same associations rightly understood 
will be evolved the remedy for each and every 
evil, and he who can relieve present want and at 
the same time set in motion agencies that tend 
to prevent future Avant, rises to the dignity of 
the humanitarian and ennobles the age in which 
he lives. 

The purpose of this article is special rather 
than speculative, with sense rather than with 
sentiment and directed to the charities of New 
York in particular, where the conditions of want 
and dependence are unique and the causes daily 
more complex. Pauperism may be on the in- 
crease ; Inefficiency certainly is, and this largely 
because we have such an enormous element of 
foreign poor, who since they can not bring money 
with them should bring education, thrift and 
mechanical skill and unfortunately are mostly 
without either of these elements of success. They 
increase rapidly and are not correspondingly de- 
veloped to cope with conditions. What else can 
they become but a burden upon society and a 
probable menace ? Vice does not breed poverty 
any more than it breeds ignorance. It is a result 
not a cause. The child is shaped and developed 
by his environment, the man is the result. If 
that child is taught to understand his environ- 
ment and his own relation to it and then to 
jjossess himself, he, in turn, will shape that en- 
vironment when he reaches manhood. Huxley 
tells us that the educated man is he who-knowing 
the laws that govern us has trained himself to 
live in conformity with them. Now what are 
the environments of the very poor in New York ? 
Crowded and illy arranged dwellings, narrow, 
often dirty streets, a constant and hopeless strug- 
gle to earn more than the simple necessities of 
life. And this, not so much because of low wage- 
plane or high price of food and raiment, as be- 
cause of unskilled labor and small dissipations 
on the part of the men— poor home-making and 
improvidence on the part of the women. 

The thinking man knows that the greatest 
economy lies in applying our remedies to the 
children. The first and most essential step is 
to furnish them with a healthy atmosphere in 
which they may develop physically and spirit- 



ually. The highest solution for this part of the 
problem, up to the present time, is the Kinder- 
garten. For the further education of the child, 
to equip him for self-support and its consequent 
self-respect, he must have industrial and me- 
chanical training. Most children of this class 
must have domestic training and home influences 
outside of their own home. The reasons for this 
are evident to those familiar with life in 
the tenement districts of the city, where the 
standard of home-life rarely rises above the sim- 
ple demand for food and shelter. Such schools 
as the "Abigail" have grappled with this need 
and compass it more or less completely. Here is 
the field for work that solves much of the prob- 
lem of growing want and inefficiency among the 
poor. This is the economy of energy and money, 
whether it comes from the state or the private 
purse. Most men recognize this, a few are 
enthusiastic, but that the recognition of the 
worth of such work is only half-hearted with the 
mass is shown by the suffering of such institu- 
tions this summer when givers deserted establish- 
ed work and rushed to the aid of charities grow- 
ing out of war issues to the exclusion of those 
charities which are none the less noble because 
they take time to mature. There is no place in 
this broad land where the business man gives so 
much and so freely as he does in New York, but 
unfortunately while most of him thinks quickly 
and forcibly in every channel of his activities, 
he prefers to /eeZ in his charities. An appeal to 
his sympathies brings him in communion with 
his better self, and he enjoys it and enjoys 
giving, but while this ennobles the individ- 
ual it has been an evil to society in general, 
for it has brought about that irrational habit 
of giving and he has responded to appeals from 
business policy, personal and social reasons as 
well as sympathy, until he has brought on him- 
self a burden of charity appeals that has come to 
be intolerable under present business conditions. 
There are certain legitimate efforts of the Red 
Cross and its Auxiliaries that Avere deserving of 
immediate and hearty recognition. There were 
also many so-called Red Cross side helps that had 
no place among worthy charities, many of them 
fraudulent, all obviously unnecessary, but they 
bore the talismanic name and no man thought 
of denying them. He preferred pinching his 
home charities that he might give to the Red 
Cross and various Soldier's and Sailor's Relief 
Societies. These are noble chai-ities, but it is 
worth while to use a little hard business sense to 
in dealing with them. In the first place New 
York alone has raised hundreds of thousands for 
these interests, what then must be the aggregate 
of gifts from Maine to California ? Shall I be 
accused of want of sentiment if I say it is all 
largely overdone ? Then so be it. Sense is valu- 
able to regulate sentiment. Without lacking in 



The Abigail 



51 



any essential element of respect and admiration 
for the noble women who braved danger and 
disease to go into the field, or the grand courage 
and manhood of the soldiers or sailors who thrust 
themselves into the breach to preserve our coun- 
try's honor, yet a few plain facts may check the 
tide of sentiment that is likely to become maudlin. 

The work of the Red Cross Society is distinctly 
of the hour and is largely confined to two or 
three centers of action. The government has 
only lately accepted its services and now pays 
for them. In the nature of things they can not 
consume great amounts yet the gifts from all 
over the land have been enormous. The public 
ought to know what becomes of the money at 
least. 

As to the various protective societies for the 
families of soldiers and sailors, it is safe to assert 
that a great part of those men who were wil- 
ling to leave helpless wives and young children 
without support, were men who would not have 
supported them had they stayed at home. In all 
cases they labored under a mistaken idea of duty. 
A man's first duties always lie nearest to him 
and in most of these cases the families were very 
properly subjects for the commissioners of public 
charities. But it has all fallen on the business 
men. One society in this city sent §3,700 to one 
regiment alone. A government that can insti- 
tute war should see its way clear to pay its sold- 
iers and one feels like asking what has become 
of the hundreds of millions of dollars appropria- 
ted for war purposes if private purses must be 
taxed to pay the soldier, to nurse him, furnish 
him comforts and kee]) his family. 

It is hoped that no spirit of acrimony is in this 
plain talk, but it is but truth to say that it is in- 
spired by the unnecessary prodigality of giving 
in these directions that has taken much of the 
small amount of money in circulation and crip- 
pled the effectiveness of such humble yet vital 
work as is done by the '-'Abigail School " and 
kindred institutions. Isabella G. Stanley. 

FOOD can be greatly improved by Steam Cooking. 




You can see by the cut on the left that the spring valve retains 
the steam to a pressure of about four pounds to the square inch, if the 
pressure gets higher, the safety valve allows the steam to escape, that 
gives you a high temperature of 235°. 

These vessels are used for cooking IMeals, Soups, Fruits and 
Vegetables, as well as Cereals. 

Send for illustrated descriptive circular. 

A. M A a O R ^ 

4S1 Pearl Street, Hev^ York City. 



THE DUDES BEFORE SANTIAGO. 



They scoffed when we lined up with Teddy, 

They said we were dudes and all that; 
They imagined that " ChoUy " and Fweddie ' 

Would faint at the drop of the hat I 
But let them look there in the ditches. 

Blood-stained by the swells in the van, 
And know that a chap may have riches 

And still be a man ! 

They said that we'd wilt under fire. 

And run if the foeman said " Boo I " 
But a fellow may have a rich sire 

And still be a patriot, too ! 
Look there where we met twice our number, 

Where the life-blood of dudes drenched the earth ! 
The swells who lie in their last slumber 

Prove what we are worth ! 

They laughed when we said we were going, 

They scoffed when we answered the call ; 
We might do at tennis or rowing. 

But as warriors I— oh, no — not at all ! 
Ah, let them look there in the ditches. 

Blood-stained by the dudes in the van. 
And learn that a chap may have riches 

And still be a man ! 

— Cleveland Leaded' . 



HE WANTS A VACATION. 



This is the way the Pacific coast editor feels 
when the weather begins to get warm and he 
longs for his vacation :— 

" I would flee from the city's rule and law — 
from its fashions and forms cut loose— and go 
where the stra'wberry grows on its straw and the 
gooseberry grows on its goose ; where the catnip 
tree is climbed by the cat as she clutches for her 
prey — the guileless and unsuspecting rat on the 
rattan bush at play ; I will catch with ease the 
safi'ron cow and the cowlet in their glee, as they 
leap in joy from bough to bough 'on the top of a 
cowslip tree ; and list while the partridge drums 
his drum and the woodchuck chucks his wood, 
and the dog devours the dogwood plum in the 
primitive solitude. 

" 0, let me drink from the moss grown pump 
that was hewn from the pumpkin tree ! Eat 
mush and milk from a rural stump, from folly 
and fashions free— new gathered mush from the 
mushroom vine, and milk from the milkweed 
sweet— with pineapple from the pine. And then 
to the whitewashed dairy I'll turn, where the 
dairymaid hastening hies, her ruddy and golden 
red butter to churn from the milk of .her butter- 
flies ; and I'll rise at morn with the earliest bird, 
to the fragrant farmyard pass, and watch while 
the farmer turns his herd of grasshoppers out to 
grass."— Pocz|/iC' Union. 



52 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 

C. Pr, DEVARE, Editor. Mrs. J. V. DEN.NtTT, Assistant Editor. 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, soc Per V;Er. 5 cents Per Copy, 



All Commuuicatious, Subscriptions, etc., should be sent to the Edi- 
tor, lOi Sullivan Street, Borough of Manhattan, N. Y. City. 



"Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." Luke XVIII., i6. 

New York, September 1st, 1898. 
EDITORIAL. 



"ABIGAIL CHILDREN'S PRAISE 
MEETINGS." 

Our Praise Meetings held on Tuesday and 
Thursday evenings are well worthy to be brought 
to a closer notice of our friends. 

The attendance is enormous. 
Were it not for strict adherence to discipline 
and punctuality, which permits us to turn away 
children who come later than the exact time set 
for the beginning of the meeting, we would not 
have room for all who come. 

As it is, we average about ISO children at our 
meetings. The order and attention displayed by 
the children have astonished many visitors. 

Well, we must say our children do love their 
school and their teachers ; it is not fear that 
makes them so well behaved, except the fear of 
their love, not wishing to hurt our feelings. 

Our old friend Mr. Riverius Marsh attends the 
Tuesday night meetings regularly, he takes com. 
plete charge of the children on these evenings. 

And how the children do love him, they just 
hang on to his lips, so to say, afraid to lose a 
word of his talk. He can talk everything of 
interest to the little ones, he can vary his talk 
in such a way that he never tires them, he knows 
when to stop, and you know, children appreciate 
this as much as men. 

Our meetings last one hour from 7.30 to 8.30 
P. M. Punctually to the minute we close. 

We claim that we have a right to give our 
children a good example even in this respect. We 
insist that they should be off the street, in their 
homes before nine o'clock and we hold that it 
would be more than a trifle inconsistent to keep 



them late, even at a praise or prayer meeting. 

Some of our children used to go with the older 
boys to some boys inissions in various quarters 
of the city; the people in charge of those missions 
were so inconsiderate regarding the wants of 
children that thej^ kept their meetings open until 
9, 9.30, and later. 

We saw the demoralizing influence upon our 
children and have since confined all our efforts 
at home. 

It might be safe enough to sometimes pass 
off little inconsistencies among grown people, 
but this will never do among children, they look 
with an anxious and watchful mind upon all our 
actions, they are in a stage of formation and 
development that brooks no inconsistencies. 

No trifling even with trifles, for to them every- 
thihg is stern reality. 

This is one of the secrets of our success, this is 
one of the ties that binds our children so close 
to us, that they will follow us everywhere and 
anywhere with their little confidence set and 
confii'med. 

Mr. Marsh at the close of the meeting sta- 
tions himself near the inner door and hands 
every child a sweet cracker. Reader, it is only 
a cracker, but the grace and the smiling face 
with which it is offered, makes it woi-th a great 
deal to the little ones ; their appreciative " thank 
you, Mr. Marsh," tells the story, that it is more 
to them than its intrinsic worth. 

Oh!! how love and kindness go a great way 
with the poor, it is the old story of the "drink 
of water given in His name." On Thursday 
nights the meetings are attended in the same 
way, only no sweetcakes are distributed. 

We have a S3'stem to secure regular attendance 
at these meetings Avhich is much appreciated by 
the children. 

Ever}^ child attending the meeting is handed 
a ticket with the date of meeting stamped on 
the back; at the end of every quarter the boy or 
girl, who have as many tickets as there were meet- 
ings held, is presented with an appropriate prize, 
generally some useful book or some nice thing 
for their house. 

The last quarter we gave them a fair bunch of 
fire-crackers each, every child entitled to a prize, 
came on the morning of the Fourth of July to 
get their crackers or tori:)edos to help to celebrate 
the great victorj^ of our Navy and Army. 



OUR TEACHER'S STAFF. 



The Superintendent, the General Manager, Miss 
E. A. Burd, Drawing, Mrs. I. G. Stanley, Physi- 
cal Culture, Mr. John Luhrs, Boy's Department, 
Miss Clara Ballettieri, Girl's Department. 



The Abigail 



53 



"THE SCHOOL AS USUAL OPEN DURING 
THE HOT MONTHS." 

Since the public schools closed our school as 
usual has been overrun. We carried on our 
register in July the names of 347 children 
who have attended within the hours from 7.30 
a. m. to 1 p. m. 

Just think, all these children would have to be 
on the street during all this time, were it not for 
the " Abigail " as usual keeping open its doors to 
them. 

We manage to keep them indooi-s for about an 
hour, having a patriotic and religious song-meet- 
ing. The rest of the time they spend in the large 
yard, disporting themselves on swings, rope- 
ladders, horizontal bars, punching bags and 
many other diversions. 

The regular lessons are suspended during the 
heated season with the exception of Mrs. Stan- 
ley's physical . cultui-e lessons. She holds her 
classes Monday mornings in an enclosure in the 
yard, with all the gymnastic instruments moved 
out of the way for the time being. 

These lessons given out of doors in the shade 
are a great boon to the fifty selected children 
who attend them. At one o'clock general dis- 
missal takes place, children who have no laarents 
or elder sisters or brothers to look after them are 
kept until called for by the parents when return- 
ing from work. 

Thus we keep on doing our work among the 
poor even in the heated season, when all general 
efforts in this direction are abandoned Every 
year when the hot weather comes around we feel 
inclined to discuss the advisability of fleeing 
from the harvest and seeking quiet and change 
of air and surroundings, but the love that caused 
us ten years ago to embark in this work, usually 
in its constraining measure gets the upperhand 
over our reasoning, we stay at our post, thanking 
God for health and the opportunity for doing his 
work. 

Still we feel that some of our friends when 
coming on a visit to town from their summer 
homes might stray in and encourage us and the 
children by their presence. 

Since we prepared for this issue we were com- 
pelled to close the school for the space of four 
weeks, it will now be closed until September 
13th, the date of the opening of the public 
schools. 

The extraordinary heat told upon us heavily 
both Mrs. Devare and myself felt completely 
tired out and symptoms of nervous prostration 
manifested themselves. 

By disposing of our enforced vacation in an 
economical and sensible way we will all feel 
better prepared to use our energies in the work 
when we reopen. 



" ABIGAIL SEWING SCHOOL. 



Our sewing school was closed on June 20th to 
be reopened in the fall. 

The school is managed entirely by Mrs. C. P. 
Devare and has been very successful. Forty- 
eight sessions have been held this year. The 
average attendance has been twenty-seven, which 
gives an aggregate attendance of L29G. 

Twenty-nine full gingham dresses have been 
made by the children, waist and lining, every- 
everything completely finished under the guid- 
ance of their teacher, Mrs. Devare, who cut the 
garments for them. 

Thirty-four white aprons were made by the 
children and twenty-six petticoats. 

When it is understood that most of these child- 
ren present mostly raw material, their hands 
untrained to the needle, the reader might form 
an idea of the patient toil expended by their 
teacher who accomplished all this unaided, ani- 
mated with an unflinching zeal and love for the 
little ones. 

The children wear their garments with a cer- 
tain pride showing their own handiwork. Most 
of them are going to Mont Lawn for their ten 
days' outing and their wardrobe accompanying 
them on their trip, includes invariably some gar- 
ment made at the Abigail School. 

The material for all these garments are fur- 
nished to the children by the school manage- 
ment, including thread, needles, etc. 

All are asked to attend punctually at their ses- 
sions and at the praise-meetings during the week. 

Of course to the sewing-school only girls under 
fourteen years of age who attend public schools 
are admitted. 

This is in keeping with all our other efforts 
which are spent in the line of Americanizing our 
children. 

We have no time and inclination to create any 
eff'orts in any other by-paths that do not lead to 
or clash in any way with our public schools, the 
great bulwark of Nationalism, Patriotism and 
Religious Liberty. 

These girls instructed by us, carrying the prac- 
tical results of physical and moral teaching to 
their homes become in turn the missionaries for 
our " School," they are the means by which their 
"little urchin brothers and sisters and children of 
their neighbors are attracted to our school. '■'■^-' '. 

They become the most faithful votaries of our 
system which reaches down to the little child and 
helps to lift it to the position it would have occu- 
pied only for the neglect brought about by cruel 
circumstances over which it had no control. 



Virtue is so praiseworthy that • wicked people 
practice it from self -interest. 



54 



The Abigail 



MILITARY HYMN. 



OUR NEEDS." 



(Air, "Greenland's Icy Mountains.") 



From Cuba's broad plantation, 

From Porto Rico's shore, 
Where long the Spanish nation 

Hath spent the land in gore ; 
From Philippine's dark daughter, 

From Caroline's fair strand. 
The cry comes o'er the water, 

' ' Oh, stay the tyrant's hand ! " 

What tho' the ground-down Cuban, 

Starved out, crawls out to die, 
Tho' crimes the most inhuman 

Have drawn the Malay cry ; 
Tho' long the distant thunder 

Hath told the coming storm, 
Yet Spain, by crime and blunder, 

Hath stifled just reform. 

Shall we whose arms are strengthened 

By freedom dearly bought 
Permit the season lengthened 

Ere Spain be better taught ? 
On with the righteous thunder 

Of cannon, ball and shell, 
Whilst Old World nations wonder, 

Deal justice full and well. 

Flash, flash, ye wires of lightning ! 

Resound, ye telephones ! 
For Freedom's star is bright'ning 

And Spain's dark tyrant groans- 
" Humanity forever ! " 

Let fair Columbia sing, 
'Till Freedom, dying never. 

Alone be Cuba's king. 

-H . RANDOi.rH Latimer, in Baltimoi-e News. 



ATTENDANCE DURING LAST QUARTER 
ENDING JULY. 



110 



G3 



128 



26 



Kindergarten department, children from 
three to seven years of age 

Afternoon Sessions, children now attend- 
ing public school . - . - 

Praise Meetings, for boys and girls of the 
neighborhood . . . . 

Sewing School for girls under 14 years of 
age who attend public school 

Sunday School, preparatory for children to 
fit them for their own respective schools 76 

This will give the reader an idea of the way in 
which our time is filled up. 

To study the character of all these children and 
to administer the proper remedies for malforma- 
tion of same and utter neglect, and thus provide 
them with a means to become useful citizens and 
patriots, is a task which requires all the good and 
grace that a merciful God can endow us with. 
We need not only the financial help of our friends 
but also their good wishes and prayers. 



At our last quarterly meeting held on July ISth 
at the premises of the school, the various differ- 
ent reports were offered and disposed of as usual. 

The treasurer's report showed a deficit of $219.- 
61 including the deficit shown at the meeting held 
in April last. 

This represents money held back on the salary 
of Mr. and Mrs. Devare for the last six months. 

Such deficits have from time to time occurred 
during the nine years of the school's existence. 
Mr. & Mrs. Devare readily and ungrudgingly 
donating the amounts to the work, doing without 
things rather than have the school embarrassed. 

At the meeting which was only attended by a 
few it was ruled to let this deficit stand against 
the school and have it made up in future con- 
tributions. 

Besides this about one hundred and fifty dollars 
will be needed to meet other bills due to square 
up. 

We ask therefore our friends who read this to 
come to our aid and help us to make things 
straight during this coming fall. 

Peace has almost been declared now, the busi- 
ness of the country has been or will be soon freed 
from the fetters of contraction in which it has 
been held during these trying war times. 

Our trust and faith is in God to warm the 
hearts of our friends to our work and cause them 
to contribute towards its success. 

GOD'S TEACHING IN SUSPENSE. 



Suspense is very painful. We are all the time 
waiting for war news, buying extras, talking of 
rumors. The Psalmist teaches us this sentiment, 
as from the lijis of the Ruler of all the earth: "Be 
still and know that I am God." President Mc- 
Kinley, and Congress, and the Naval Board, and 
all our Commodores and Captains, our Generals 
and Colonels, can not do what we want done. If 
God is with us, we can do it. We are following 
our fleets from coaling station to coaling station, 
from this passage to that, we are often critical 
and impatient. " Be still." God's pathways are 
in the seas and his footsteps in the great waters. 
Commodore Dewey's victory at Manila was a les- 
son from God's plan of campaigns. We did not 
lose a single life. No other such naval battle 
ever occurred in the history of the world. 

We have not gone to battle at our own charges. 
The woe was upon us, if we neglected it. We 
were ashamed of ourselves to have such whole- 
sale butchery of innocents so near are shores. 
Our hearts had cried out against the supineness 
of the great European powers, that allowed the 
unhallowed sword of Mohammed, unrebuked to 
slay thousands upon thousands of innocent Ar- 
menians. We boast to ourselves what we would 



the Abigail 



55 



Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley who represents the 
Abigail Free Scliool and Kindergarten in outside 
work has kindly undertaken to represent this 
paper in the capacity of business and advertising 
manager ; we heartily recommend her to our 
readers and patrons. 




Established in 1876. 



MAJOR'S CEMENT 



Price, 15c and 25c per Bottle. 

Specially prepared for liouseliold purposes. Mends anything that 

breaks ; Meerschaum, Tipping Billiard Cues. Jnst the thing 

to fasten the end of a bandage; also, to stick it 

to the skin to keep it in position. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

A wonderful sticker. No Bicyclist should be without it. For 
repairing Rubber Boots, Slioes, Rubber Garments, Silk Um- 
brellas. 15 Cents. 
MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT : 

Of surprising adhesive power. Boots and Shoes, and articles of 

Leather. 18 CENTS. 

At Druggists and House Furnlsliing Stores, or by mail, free of 

postage. 

bevtahe!!! take no substitute. 

MAJOR CEMENT CO., 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 

Kerby, Watson & Co., Mo.ntkeal. 



The following contributions were received since we went to press 
last, which we acknowledge with thanks. 

C. H. & E. S. Goldberg i wire mat: The Holbrook Mfg. Co I 
box soap, I box soap powder: Singer Mfg Co i sewing machine: 
Jacob Schiff $25: Moses Newborg $10: James M. Speers of James 
McCutcheon Co$io: W.H.Gray $5: John W. Aitken of Aitken 
Son & Co $10: J. W. McDonald $2: Bartlett B. Page |i: D. 
Stern & Co $1: M. M. Bloomberg fi: Chas, Broadway Rouss f 2 
Louis Hefter^i: W. D. Wright 25cts; S. Edman 25cts: Clark 
Chapin, Bushnell |i: L. Vollman $1: Henry W. F. Mali $2 
Edw. F. Caldwell $5: John Braly $1: J. S. Graham $1: Robt 
ReidCo$i: Mr. Tieman $2.50: A. M. Speed f i; W.H.Win 
ans|l: Thos. H. Crossley |i: F. Bingham $1: Durbrow & 
Hearn Mfg Co $1: A. S. Rosenthal #2: Gillis & Geoghogan $5 
Silverberg Bros fi: Knothe Bros $1: Loeb & Schoenfeld $2: Wm 
Clarke Co $1: R. R. Appleton $1: S. W. Richardson $1: M, 
Koblenzer 50 cts; S. & N. D' Micharb 50 cts: Zaiss Wersba & 
Co $5: R, Speed |i: Aug. Biscomb $£: H. Herrman, Sternbach 
&Co$2: Joseph Loth & Co I5: Arnold & Constable $10: Edwin 
J. Gillies $10: A. Kimball & Co $5: Mrs. Hammond a lot of 
childrens clothing & shoes. 



do, if we had an opportunity. And the oppor- 
tunity was here at the door. And just as eagerly 
as our ships of peace were ready with food for 
the starving, our men-of-war now bear our brave 
seamen to the deliverance of Cuba from Spanish 
oppression. Let us trust in God. Let us pray 
for his leadership. He is the same God as taught 
his ancient people how to break down the stone- 
walls and gates of brass, which lay between them 
and the land promised to their fathers. Yes, it 
is a humanitarian war, but it is also a war of 
which the great Captain is Jehovah-God. " Be 
still, and you know that I am God. I will be 
exalted among the heathen. I will be exalted in 
the earth."— Selected. 



It would seem that either poor children, unable 
to have any open-air pleasures except those to be 
enjoyed in the public parks and squares of the 
city, must be deprived of these, or else that a 
cavilling public will refuse to patronize first class 
hotels or any houses from which a view of the 
little ones enjoying such liberty can be had. The 
claim that §10,000 to $15,000 have been lost to the 
Empire Hotel because rude children would bathe 
and play in the fountain situated in the small 
park in front of the building, shows that the 
sights, which are tolerated and eyen admired by 
Americans who see them in a foreign city are 
regarded in a wholly different light from a nearer 
standpoint. The Puritan spirit still predominates, 
and, in spite of travel and broadening influences 
"we have not changed all that." 

For further information and particulars about 
the Abigail Free School and Kindergarten, ad- 
dress C. Pr. Devare, 101 Sullivan St. 



'HE lBIGAIL» 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 



JUVENILE MISSION WORK. 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

( $1.00 per inch per insertion. 



Rates of Advertising : 



$io.oo per inch per year. 



Business and Publication Office : 

lO-a SULL-IVAN STREET, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York. 



56 



the Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
child is the father to the. man ; and as 
the child is, so in all probability will the man be. 
History and experience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon the child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carry it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our largo cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the jsrinciple foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues Ave must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 18S9 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1S95. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
pi-oved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious dux-ing their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of §10.00 will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of $25.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If tlien you find it convenient to respond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1898. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From S150 to $500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



I. 

The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 
II. 
This institution guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 

The School will be ma,de attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afflorded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for boys and girls. 
V. 

The age at which children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind will be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those who 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 

The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industry and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
Avill be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this School will be 
fjrovided each dav with a substantial lunch. 
X. 

A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by the children 
ai-e taken to their homes. 
XII. 

Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P. M. XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory, is held 10.30 A.M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 P M. 
XV. 

Every week day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
4 P. M., the School is thrown open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend jHiblic 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs G.30 P.M. 




O^e Sel^ool 



Oije |^9§tja§e 



Entered as Second Class matter at the Kew York, N. Y. Post Office, April Sth, 189S. 



Vol. I, No. 8. 



STUDY OF LONGFELLOW. 



-104 Sullivan St., Kew York City, October, 1898. 



50c PER Year 



NOTHING is more extravagant in appearance 
tiian the tones and colors united in the 
light textures of the silk stuffs of India: yet 
nothing is more harmonious and splendid when 
exposed to light or the sun than these ray emitt- 
ing tissues. 

Thus it is with Longfellow. Nothing more 
undulary and diverse than the sentiments and 
the ideas, the passions and the desires which met 
and touched in his soul and in his heart. 

But by the light of faith and love, they mix 
and mingle into a harmonious and radiant uni- 
formity. 

Endowed with an exquisite delicacy, elevated 
by his habits and by his aspirations above the 
considerations that guide the masses of profess- 
ional men ; of an almost nervous sensibility 
constantly applied to tlie spiritualization of facts 
and things ;— convolved upon himself and upon 
nature, environed by his thought like by a vest- 
ment, so to say lapped in thought— Longfellow 
was bound, by all necessity, to be frequently 
bruised by the contact with the smallnesses of life, 
struck and wounded in the midst of the shock of 
the passions of poor humanity. 

He was bound to experience in certain houi-s of 
trouble, the dangerous temptation to live more 
and more " outside and above," to freely let hijn- 
self float with the tide of noble reveries and to 
finally drape himself with the egotism of " Wer~ 
ther" of a "Chatterton " of "Joseph De Lorrae." 

The greatest grief of his life came to add to 
these tendencies of his character. 

In the year 1835, hardly 38 years of age, he lost, 



in the quaint old Rotterdam, the companion of 
his heart and of his talent ; her of whom he had 
said so admirably that " her soul was a temple 
dedicated to God and like the Pantheon in Rome, 
lighted only by on high." 

These various sorrows weighed heavily upon 
his Avork. 

Longfellow was a " melancholist ." 

The fatigue of his literary career more than 
once tired out his strength, and throwing his 
regards behind upon the space over which he had 
travelled, he complained bitterly to those who 
were about to start on this road of sorrows. 

" Oh little feet which, during so many years 
will wander across hopes and fears, which will 
suffer and will bleed under your burden,— I am 
approaching the hostelry of the road, where my 
labor ended,I will find repose, I am worried think- 
ing or the course that you will have to run. 

Oh little hands which weak or strong will have 
to attend or manage during so long a time, dur- 
ing so long a time you will have to dispend or 
require ; I, loving worked so much with pen and 
brain among my kind, I am worried thinking of 
the task that you will strive to accomplish." 

There is nothing astonishing in this passing 
dejection. 

The dissipation of the illusions of every day, of 
the illusions about men, of the illusion concerning 
things, of the illusions of ideas, left an inefface- 
able imprint upon his dreaming virgin soul. 

On the other hand, his ardent and prying spirit 
with an activity feverish in times like that of 
Faust rushed unceasingly upon objects that were 
always in sight in the morning but became un- 
attainable towards evening. 



sa 



the Abigaii 



" For my heart was hot and restless. 
And my life was full of care. 
And the burden laid upon me 
Seemed greater than I could bear." 

The mirage of life caused to reflect to his sight 
those living waters the distant and fallacious 
view of which reanimates for an instant the 
vigor of the traveller in the desert only soon 
to leave him more thirsty and exhausted amidst 
the arid sands faintly uttering a hope to be no 
more deceived. 

It is clearly evident, that in things created 
nothing is complete, nothing is perfect, nothing 
is an object as nothing is a principle ; and man 
the wandering Jew of thought is condemned to 
perpetually march on. 

" No matter what ardor we put at our work, 
something always remains unaccomplished ; 
something incomplete always, always awaits the 
rising of the coming sun .... '-'And this is 
the reason why : 

" Every day is rendered more heavy by the 
cares of the preceding evening. And we resem- 
ble more from day to day the dwarves of times 
gone by, who according to the legends of the 
North carry the heavens upon their shoulders." 

Well ! are we then doomed to never say to the 
hour that jsasses : '•' Stop, for thou art beautiful? 
Must we blindly rush into a sombre future, with 
aspirations always unsatisfied, with desires un- 
fulfilled and constantly returning, and finally 
bend under the cover of inflexible Destinies ? " 

If it were thus, what ought to be the ideal 
conduct of the sage, but that of the ancient stoic 
which brings before our mind the proud and des- 
pairing ravings of a " De Vigny " or of some of 
our greatly inferior unmentionable contemporary 
sidelights. 

Such was not the response of Longfellow to 
the pains and worries of existence. If occasional- 
ly he permitted a cry of anguish to escape,if from 
his heart oppressed with bitterness there arose a 
complaint, it was but dui-ing those rapid instants 
of oblivion and moral weakness which the strong- 
est man experiences in his life, and which arouse 
a revolted and perverted nature. 

He experienced, he suffered, he even expressed 
the sorrows if not permanent at least preponder- 
ating in human life, but never did he bemoan 
like Werther, to the very last dregs of bitterness 
the variations of his fate nor did he revel in gi'ief 
as in a strange attracting delight. 

The Anglo-Saxon character did more than any- 
thing else to save him from such indulgent and 
culpable abandonment. He found in himself the 
courage to fight body to body the ''Proteus" of his 
grief, not with the tears of scorn like "De Vigny" 
but — like Tom Brown — he had tasted the silent 
pleasure,so dear to every Anglo-Saxon, to endure, 
to resist, to struggle a,gainst something and not 
to yield. 



This however is but a factitious force full of 
defections, which leaves life without a solution. 

It is not sufficient to resist, to combat, to vali- 
antly submit; it is necessary to accept, to 
embrace the inevitable, and this supreme force 
will but be met in faith which gives hope. As 
Longfellow has often expressed: "Faith alone 
can interpret Life." 

Faith creates confidence, because man feels 
himself assisted by a superior though invisible 
power, because he knows, that, as Longfellow 
has rightly again said : ' ' with his enfeebled 
hands groping in vain in the darkness, he always 
finds the right hand of God which will raise him 
and uphold him." — 

Is this to say that Ave might carelessly and 
lazily permit ourselves to be drawn wherever our 
blind steps will carry us reckoning upon divine 
assistance to save us from the abyss ? Certainly 
not, for this assistance will but be given to those 
who have merited it as the reward of their perse- 
vering labors and their valiantness in their 
misfortunes. 

" Help yourself , and heaven in'll help you" is 
the summary of a believing life. Activity be- 
comes virtue. 

Life had ever but one object : to develop the 
treasure of the faculties granted to us by soverign 
goodness ; to enable our mind, to elevate our 
hearts and souls. It is not merely a wide expanse 
where we hurry without necessity to produce a 
day's work, but it is an arena where athletes 
anointed with the oil of the strong exercise for 
the track or for combat, strive to acquire more 
elasticity of their members, more resistance and 
vigor in their muscles preparing for the great 
day of public concourse. 

Why these despairs ? says Longfellow : " No 
effort is naade in vain, its recompense is in the 
act itself the impulse of the pursuit is the reward 
of the conqueror." — 

What shall be the necessary conclusion of this 
doctrine ? Here it is, expressed by our poet in 
his youth, when he had just closed his nineteenth 
year. 

" Life is real, life is serious, and death is not its 
end, " dust thou art and into dust thou shalt re- 
turn," this has not been said to the soul." 

During all his life he did remain faithful to all 
his beliefs and loves. 

" Channing " says of him: "The great pur- 
pose of Christianity manifestlj^ preoccupied him 
more and more." — I love "love" said he the only 
thing I hate is "hate"; for hate is the death of 
love. 

His life was crowned with that supreme virtue, 
love, or better, charity, and, following the exam- 
ple of John the Evangelist, he went among the 
people murmuring always the same words, "My 
little children love yon one another." 

Thus this great spirit Avhich has had, as we 
have seen, his swift hours of trouble and uncer- 
tainty, has found like the hero of his " Golden 
Legend " its centre of rest and harmony in faith 
and love. 



The Abigail 



59 



HIS MOTHER'S BOY. 



THE KIND OF BOY HE LIKED. 



A mother once owned a commonplace boy, 

A shock-headed boj', 

A freckle- face boy, 

But thought he was handsome, and said so with joy; 

For mothers are funny — 

Quite so- - 

About their sons' beauty, you know. 

His nose, one could see, was not Grecian, but piig, 

And turned up quite snug, 

Like the nose of a jug; 

But she said it was " piquant," and gave him a hug; 

For mothers are funny, you know — 

Quite so-^ 

About their sons' beauty, you know. 

His eyes were quite small, and he blinked in the sun; 

But she said it was done 

As a mere piece of fun, 

And gave an expression of wit to her son; 

For mothers are funny, you know — 

Quite so — 

About their sons' beauty, you know. 

The carroty love-locks that covered his head 

She never called red. 

But auburn instead — 

"The colors the old masters painted," she said; 

For mothers are funny, you know — 

Quite so — 

About their sons' beauty, you know. 

Now, boys, when your mothers talk so, let it pass; 

Don't look in the glass, 

Like a vain, silly lass. 

But go tend the baby, pick chips, weed the grass; 

Be as good as you'r pretty, you know — 

Quite so — 

As good as you'r pretty, you know. 

—Seleckd by "Aunt Joe. 



Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes once said. : "You 
may set it down as a truth, which admits of few 
exceptions, tiaat those who ask your opinion 
really Avant your praise. 



FOOD can hs. greatly improved by Steam Cooking. 




Vou can see by the cut on the left that the spring valve retains 
the steam to a pressure of about four pounds to the square inch, if the 
pressure gets higher, the safety valve allows the steam to escape, that 
gives you a high temperature of 235"^. 

These vessels are used for cooking Meats, Soups, Fruits and 
Vegetables, as well as Cereals. 

Send for illustrated descriptive circular. 



4Si Pearl Street, 



ITe'w York City. 



"Wanted— A bright boy to begin at tlie bottom 
of tlie ladder in my office, and gradually work 
up by his own conscientious efforts, until I can 
take him into partnership and marry him to my 
only daughter. Call at 9462 West Fourteen and 
a Half Street." 

Mr. Gotrox sat in his office impatiently await- 
ing the answers to this ad., which he knew 
would come. 

In a few minutes, one after another, a large 
number of lads filed in, some of them breathless 
from running, having read their morning papers 
a little late. Mr. Gotrox looked them over quick- 
ly with an eagle eye and dismissed all but two. 
'■NoAv, boys," he said, after he had talked with 
them a bit, "I like the looks of you both and will 
employ the one who does a simple thing the 
best. (He should have said "better," inasmuch 
as there were only two boys, but he was not that 
sort of man during business hours.) 

"Here are two packages, just alike, which have 
just been delivered here," he said, "John," ad- 
dressing the sad-eyed, dreamy youth, "let me see 
you open this parcel." Then John winked at 
himself and said in his heart: "This is indeed a 
snap. How glad I am that I am upon or on to 
this little scheme." And with great care and 
patience he tugged and picked at the hard knots, 
and after long effort took the cord off into one 
piece, wound it into a neat coil, carefully folded 
up the coarse wrapping paper, and stepped back, 
trying hard to conceal the triumph in his eyes. 

Mr. Gotrox made no remark, except, "Now, 
Sam, it is your turn." 

Poor Sam, he had never had any advantages to 
speak of, as he had been obliged to hustle a good 
deal all his life, and never read any stories of 
good boys who had become great. He whipped 
out his jackknife, cut the cord quicker than a 
wink, and kicked the wrapping paper into the 
corner." 

"You're the boy for me," shouted Mr. Gotrox, 
"and you may go to work at once. John," he 
said, "you are a good boy, but you should have 
lived in 1846. You are not in it this year. We 
do not care nowadays to waste three shillings 
worth of time to save 1^ cents worth of paper and 
twine." — Helena (Mont.) Independent. 



A LECTURER upon domestic enonomy maintains 
that food prepared in a room properly aired and 
lighted is much more palatable than that prepar- 
ed in a dark and ill-ventilated room. The state 
of the atmosphere affects the quality of food, a- 
fact apparently forgotten by men who planned 
the basement kitchen. 



6o 



The Abigail 



».The Abigail.. 

C, Pr. DEVARE, Editor. Mrs. J. V. DENNETT, Assistan' Editor. 

PUBLISHED WlONTHi-Y. 
Subscription Price, soc Per V;ar. 5 cents Per Copy, 



All Communications, Subscriptions, etc., should be sent to tlie Edi 
tor, 104 Sullivan Street, Borougli of Manhattan, N. Y. City. 



'Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." -Luke XVIII., 16. 

New York, October, 1898. 
EDITORIAL. 



DEPENDENT CHILDEEN. 

Charity to the poor is without contradiction an 
essential part of all religion, of all that binds 
us in most indissoluble ties to Him, who 
placed us here as responsible beings to meet 
certain responsibilities. 

Charity to the poor, taking care of our less 
fortunate brethren, Avho have through fortuitous 
circumstances been disabled in the i-ace for life 
and existence, is a duty wJiich recommends itself 
to us by the unmistakable instincts of our depen- 
dence upon a higher power. God, our maker, 
our common father shall certainly take us to an 
account for the manner in which we have follow- 
ed the indelible instincts with which He has 
provided us. 

This is particularly true with regard to charity 
for dependent, neglected and helpless children, 
who through the neglect, carelessness or sin of 
depraved irresponsible or helpless parents grow 
aimlessly and listlessly as so many weeds upon 
the pavements of our great cities. 

True religion must glorify God and edify our 
fellow man. Edify him, that is build up, educate 
him and make him a part in the process of glori- 
fying God, by giving him the opportunity, if 
otherwise lacking it, to become a useful if not a 
distinguished part of the structure called the State 
or Society which are part of God's universal 
kingdom. 

Would religion accomplish its end, would the 
objects and ends of a providential system of 
political Economy be served, were we to abandon 
these dependent children ? Would it not be 
reversing the order of Providence which has 
created the strong to help the weak ? 



Of what good would be the works of charity 
and piety for the edification of our fellow men 
which are practiced to such a magnificent extent, 
were we to fail in grasping the great importance 
of providing the helpless and dependent children 
with means for growth physical and intellectual? 
What safeguards would we erect for Society 
and the State, were we to be heedless of this im- 
portant injunction to care for the health}^ growth 
of our future generations by helping and provid- 
ing for the little urchins tossed about our streets? 

They are the wards of the State, they are the 
possible props of Society, they are the future 
legislators in embryo. 

Domestic training is the rock-basis of prepar- 
ation for an education for the formation of true 
man, and womanhood, for the realization of 
vigorous and effective citizen-ship. 

These dependent children in whose belialf we 
speak, must be provided Avith an ideal substitute 
for that domestic education of which they are 
deprived, in order to have their mind and heart 
trained in such habits as will guarantee the 
absorption of the lessons and tasks imposed ujDon 
them by the curriculum of education which the 
State and Society provide for them. 

Without this cornerstone, ye who build, build 
in vain, you might raise a structure but it will be 
like the proverbial house built upon sand. 

Anarchism and socialism without any redeem- 
able features in their makeups are stalking 
abroad in our great cities over our whole land. 

The recruits for these excrescences of vitiated 
principles come principally from individuals who 
have been allowed to grow up without that 
healthy domestic training, the only safeguard of 
education, and who have been filled and cramm- 
ed with theories of education which they were 
not in a position to digest and have thus grown 
up bent only upon one purpose, to root or die. 

What about those, who never see a school after 
arriving at school age or who, only visit school 
to be dismissed as unteachable and incorrigible ? 

Well, the statistics of criminalogy will answer 
that question most concisely. 

For the sake of God, Religion, Society and 
State let us be up and doing. Support with our 
might and mites such a "School"' as is represented 
by this paper and many others to be started in 
the different crowded wards of our city. 



Loving Friends. — Never cast aside your friends 
if by any possibility you can retain them. We 
are the weakest of spendthrifts if we let one drop 
off' through inattention, or let one push away 
another, or if we hold aloof from one thought 
petty jeolousy or heedless slight or roughness. 
Would you throw away a diamond because it 
scratched you ? One good friend is not to be 
weighed against the jewels of the earth. 



The Abigail 



61 



SAVE THE CHILDREN. 



OLDEST CITIES IN THE WORLD. 



The list of accidental deaths of children has 
grown to appalling dimensions in the past few 
weeks. Each day adds its heart-rending chapter. 
The ambulances are kept busy carrying the little 
mangled forms to the hospitals. They fall from 
windows and are crushed on the paving stones or 
cruelly impaled upon iron fences. 

One six-year-old attempted to water a withered 
plant on the window sill of his mother's room in 
a tenement. The flower fell to the court below, 
and the pathetic little figure followed it to its 
death. 

A dozen boys and girls, some mere babies, have 
been crushed under wagon wjieels in the streets. 
A twoyear-old killed in front of his home; a four- 
year-old mangled by a recklessly driven coal cart. 
Many pitiful creatures made cripples for life. 

It is not surprising that these victims are all 
from humble homes— not a rich man's child 
among them. The reason is plain. Wealth buys 
nurses to care for the children, to minister to 
their comfort, to guard their safety; it pays for 
private parks and country places for them to 
revel in. 

But where can the daughters and the sons of 
the tenements find a playground ? They must 
brave death in the crowded thoroughfare; fly 
their kites on the hot roofs, only to stumble to 
destruction. The poor mother, busy at her hum- 
ble tasks, cannot help her babes from crawling 
to the window out of the stiflng heat. The next 
instant they lie dead in the court below. 

In how many wanton luxuries does this great 
city indulge itself the cost of which might be put 
to better uses ? Have the authorities ever ser- 
iously considered the moral responsibility of their 
negligence ? 

Year in and out, the sight of a flower or the 
soothing greenness of the grass is denied thous- 
ands of children, who know nothing but the 
squalor of their wretched homes. What manner 
of citizens will they make — these poor, anaemic 
creatures, stifling in filthy corners and surfeited 
with misery and iDoverty. 

It is a duty which devolves on all of us to battle 
for playgrounds for the children of the poor. Fill 
their lungs with pure air; gladden their sad eyes 
with the glories of the sky and field; lift them 
out of the mire of their surroundings. 

It is an experiment worth trying. We can 
save their lives, and may be their souls. 



The City of Marseilles has been in existence 
2,497 years. It was founded by a colony of Greeks 
when Lome, the future conqueror of both it and 
Greece, was nothing but a tiny village. Rome 
is about 3,650 years old. Of all the cities that 
were in existence when it began, and still retain 
their places on the maps, Rome is the only flour- 
ishing and best preserved. But Rome is by no 
means the oldest city on the globe or even in 
Europe. Athens, the capital of Greece, is about 
3,453 years old — older than any other European 
city. Tangier, in Morocco, is probably over 2,700 
years of age. Peking, the capital of China, is said 
to be about 3,000 yeai's old, or more; Jerusalem is 
3,900 years old, at least. 

But there is one other city, and probably only 
one, that surpasses even Jerusalem in antiquity. 
This is Damascus, once fainous for its manufact- 
ure of silks, jewelry and arms. A Damascus 
blade was prized as superior to all others. They 
are no longer made, the method by which the 
armorers of Damascus tempered the steel being 
one ot the lost arts. The exact date of tlie found- 
ing of Damascus is not known, but it is said to 
have been begun by a great-grandson of Noah. 
It is probably 4,200 years old, at any rate, and the 
oldest city in the world.— "Aunt Joe's'' Corner. 



Man is, properly speaking, based upon liope ; 
he has no other possession but hope; this world 
of his is emphatically the place of hope. — T. 
Carlijle. 

It is said that a woman has little or no sense of 
humor, and it must be true. Otherwise she could 
never get past the love, honor, and obey part of 
the mai-riage ceremony without laughing. 

Speaking of the big prices occasionally paid for 
the first choice of seats at notable performances, 
the fact is recalled that a New York hatter paid 
§225 for the first choice of a seat at Jenny Lind's 
first concert in Castle Garden in 1850. This was 
so universally commented upon by the press that 
that the hatter estimated that he i-eceived 880,000 
worth of gratuitous advertising. At Jenny Lind's 
first concert in Boston, Ossian E. Dodge, a concert 
manager and singer, got the first seat for §635, 
and netted §11,000 in succeeding concerts by the 
notoriety so gained.— "Aunt Joe's" Basket. 



Calumny spreads like an oil spot; we endeavor 
to cleanse it, but the mark remains. 

A WHIP makes the horse go, '-'money makes the 
mare go," and green muskmelon pickled makes 
a mango. 



Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley who represents the 
Abigail Free School and Kindergarten in outside 
work has kindly undertaken to represent this 
paper in the capacity of business and advertising, 
manager ; we heartily recommend her to our. 
readers and patrons. 



62 



The Abigail 



SHE NEVER WAS A BOY. 

When I came home, the other night, 

With an ugly lookin' eye, 
That I had got into a fight, 

Poor ma commenced to cry; 
But when I told pa how it was 

He clapped his hands for joy. 
And told me I done bully, 'cause 
Once he had been a boy, 

" Boys will be boys," I heard him say, 

"They won't be otherwise; 
And the one that learns to fight his way 

Is the one that wins the prize. 
When I was his age fightin' was 

My greatest earthly joy — " 
But ma kept on crying', 'cause 

She never was a boy. 

My golly! but I'd hate to 1 e 

A girl, with fluffy hair, 
And always prim as A, B, C, 

With clothes too clean to wear. 
When ma was small I s'pose she was 

Red-cheecked and sweet and coy - 
Cut, oh, the fun that missed her 'cause 

She never was a boy. 

—•'Au 



it Joe' 



REVIEW. 



Our report to the State Board of Charities for 
the year ending Sei^tember 30th, has just been 
prepared and is ready to be mailed. We find 
that we have passed through a very prosperous 
year. A great deal of work has been done. 
More children have been cared for. The de- 
mands upon our treasury have been greater than 
ever. Our circle of contributors through the 
indefatigable zeal of our able representative Mrs. 
Stanley has been greatly widened. People of all 
classes and denominations have come to join us 
in our labor, and by their often small but never- 
theless appreciated contributions have greatly 
encouraged us in our God-given task. 

The result of our labors— is so far reaching that 
it is impossible to even surmise at the present 
moment the possibilities of crowning success. 

Financially we have like other institutions 
suffered during this year which has brought so 
many perplexities to the man of business in all 
its various branches. 

We find ourselves in debt to tlie amount of 
about $300.00. One satisfaction is that for this 
debt the superintendent and general manager 
alone personally are responsible, and the institut- 
ion is not directly loaded with it. 

Our cash income from membership fees, 
donations and voluntary contributions during 
the year past has been $4,882.90, our expenditures 
were $5,198.24, lea-ving a deficit of $315.34. 



We hope our friends will help us to make this 
up before our annual report to the " State " is 
sent out on December 31st. The Superintend- 
ent and the General Manager are ready at any 
time to donate a good part of that sum, i^rovided 
the balance is raised by some generous friend or 
friends. 

In order to support our work properly witli the 
possible opportunity to meet from time to time 
some small improvement Ave need about $450.00 
per month. 

We know we will have this, for our trust is in 
Him, who is the founder and the always present 
helijer in our work. 

The School has been open for 234 days during 
this year the average daily attendance in our 
Kindergarten department for children from 3 to 
7 years of age has been 128. 

On 194 days afternoon sessions have been held 
for children, who formerly were Avith us, but 
who now visit public schools, with an average 
attendance of 65. 

On ninety evenings Praisemeetings have been 
lield for older boys and girls, most of whom have 
also been with us in former years, some of whom 
are yet attending public school, others are em- 
ployed at their various professions; the average 
attendance was 91. 

Ijct it be said here that Ave do not admit parents 
or groAvn people to the moetings, except they 
come as visitors. We guarantee our children full 
freedom and they get it unobstructed by groAvn 
people. It gives us the opportunity to address 
them as children Avithout the oppressive distinct- 
ion between them and the men and Avomen of 
their kin or of the neighborhood. 

On 41 Sunday's we kept Sunday-school, Avith 
an aA^erage attendance of CI children. 

Our Sunday-School is strictly undenomination- 
al in keeping Avith the spirit of our work. 

As our Kindergarten-School is preparatory for 
entrance to Public-School, so in the same meas- 
ure is our Sunday-School a preparatory effort. 

As soon as our scholars are deemed sufficiently 
enabled to take care of themselves and to con- 
duct themselves properly, we see that they 
attend to their own respective Sunday-School 
Avithout our leaning to any denomination. 

We are pledged in all honor to i^ursue this 
plan, keeping faith Avith the Avording of our pur- 
pose set forth in our plea for incorijoration. 

Our SeAving-School has only been open for part 
of the year owing to the straightened condition 
of our finances. 

It takes a good deal of material to supjjly our 
SeAving-school. We do no wasting rag-scAving, 
or paper-stitching. Time is too precious and 
there is too little of it, and Ave must bend Avith 
every possible effort to apply it in the most 
practical manner. 



The Abigail 



63 



Our children learn to make and do make their 
own garments, they take them home and wear 
them. The labor and constant attention needed 
for this plan of work by the teacher cannot be 
described and can only be appreciated by such as 
are familiar Avith it. 

Forty.two sessions of the Sewing-School were 
held each lasting one hour and a half, with an 
attendance of 25, at each session. 

What will you think reader, if I give you now 
the aggregate attendance during the year in our 
various departments. 

Were I to give you the aggregate amount with- 
out the foregoing statistics, you would be lost in 
wonder as to the size of our building, but with 
the help of the foregoing you will easily under- 
stand them. 

Kindergarten Dept. 234 days; average attendance 12S, gross 29,952 

Afternoon-Sessions, 194 " " " 65, " 12,610 

Praisemeetings, go " •' " gi, " S.igo 

Sunday-School, 41 " " " 61, " 2,501 

Sewing-School, 42 " " " - 25, " 1,050 

Total, 54,304 

Let us divide this big number by 334 the num- 
ber of the days that the school has been open, 
and you will see that on an average 232 children 
have been cared for us per day the whole year 
around. 

In the Dispensary under the able management 
of our good and staunch friend Dr. Messenger of 
323 West 19th Street, 252 children have been 
treated, supplied with medicine and cured. Our 
children are kept in a healthy condition through 
the energetic and unilagging efforts of our good 
Doctor with whom this is a work of plain and 
unadulterated love. Our prayer is that He who 
sees all will reward him in His own inimitable 
way. 

Such has been the work of the Abigail Free 
School and Kindergarten during the past year. 

It has proved worthy of your help, I feel it 
right to say this without the least hesitation. 

It will recommend itself to you to give us your 
renewed assistance and encouragement. We are 
ready to continue and do more for the greater 
glory of Him who places the responsibilities upon 
us to care for the poor, the helpless and the 
neglected to fit them with the equipments for 
manhood and citizenship. 



Son $1: E. B. Kursheedt f i: Lewy Bros $i: Cook & Bernheimer 
Co f 2: I. Berliner $1: Charles Cohen $i: Oscar E. A. Wiesner 
$1: Frederick Vitor & Achelis I5 : S. Kridel $ir G. Emdenfi: 
Fownes Bros &Co $: Knoblauch & Sawyer sects: Frank Coreno 
25cts; J- Rosenkranz locts: A. G- Spreter$i: Mrs. L. Messlen 
locts: J. Slawson Ir: J. Biskinty & Co 5octs; Raphaim & Mul- 
henny 25 cents. 




Established in IhTO. 



MAJOSS CEMENT 



Price, 15c and 25c per Bottle. 

Specially prepared for houselioia purposes. Mends anything that 

breaks ; Meerschaum, Tipping Billiard Cues. Just tlie thing 

to fasten the end ot a bandage; also, to stick it 

to the skin to keep it in positiou. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

A wonderful sticker, No Bicyclist should be without It. For 
repairing Rubber Boots, Shoes, Rubber Garments, Silk Um- 
biellas. 15 CENTS. 
MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

Of surprising adliesive power. Boots and Shoes, and articles of 

Leather. 18 Cents. 

At Druggists and House Furnisliing Stores, or by mall, free of 

post.age. 

BEWARE!!! TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE. 

MAJOR CEMENT CO., 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 

Kerby, Watson & Co., Montreal. 



f HE IBIGAIL 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 



.JUVENILE MISSION WORK. 



The following contributions were received since we went to press 
last, which we acknowledge with thanks. 

Arthur H. Hearn $io : S. W. Bowne $25: F. G. Van Vliet $5; 
B. T. Babbitt i case soap powder 1 case baking powder; Stevens & 
Co 20 barrels wood : Maurice Gompreclit fi: G. Seidenberg & Co 
f i: Hoffman & Elroth $1: Louis Dejonge & Co $5: R. & G. 
Corset Co $2: William Salmon 5octs; A. Weinstein socts: Anon 
$4; Albert Rineman socts; W. C. G. 5octs: S. Schwarz Bros 50 
cts; G. Deschamp I5cts; Ilolscher & Kramer locts; French Con- 
sulate $1; Johnstone Riley $1; Chas. F. Nickle f 1 ; IT. H. Sel- 
fridge |2: C. A. Logan $1: J. Dougherty f i; C. W. Valleau $1; 
McEvoy socts; H. Schroder $1: Brown & DeWinter $1 : C. F. 
Mattelage & Sons $2: United Confectioner Ass f i ; A. Schlemp & 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

.$1.00 per inch per insertion. 
I $10.00 per incli per year. 



Rate.-; of Advcrti! 



Business and Publication Office : 
10^ SUI_1_1VAJVJ STREET", 

Borougli of Manhattan, New York. 



64 



the Abigail 



\ \ / E frequently liear the expression that the 
VV cliild is the father to the man; and as 
the child is, so in all probability Avill the man be. 
Histo:y and experience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon tlic child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carry it safeh' 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
tlieir childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
Tlic unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1895. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
pi-oved by the fact that the children, after lea^dng 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on tliis grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A. yearly contribution of §10.00 will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of $25.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
lions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorshi^J. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient to res23ond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1S9S. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to §500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergai'ten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



I. 

The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the v»'ord. 
II. 
This institution guarantees the wholly nnsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 
The School will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for boj^s and girls. 

V. 
The age at which children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind will be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those who 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 
The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industrv and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to b}- those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this School will be 
provided each day with a substantial lunch. 
X. 
A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to ha.ve an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by tlie children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 
Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7'.:i() 
P. M. " XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory', is held 10.30 A.M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 P M. 
XV. 
Every week day, except Saturday, from ?> to 
4 P. M., the School is thi'own open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend public 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
I'eligious hj'mns. XVI. 

The School is open 7..">0 A. M : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs (J. ISO P.M. 




Oi?e Qod 



096 Sel?oo 







^"*T(i 



Oi)G Qotiptry 



Oi^e la9§ua§e 



Entered as Second Class matter at the New York, N. Y. Post Office, April 8th, 1S9S. 



Vol. I, No. 9. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, November, 1898. 



50c PER Year 



PHYSICAL TRAINING. 

OF the various helps which tiie charitable 
tender the poor of this city none are more 
vital to the intention. None more far-reaching 
in results than the recreation piers and public 
play-grounds for the children— promoting, as 
they do, the health of the tenement dweller by 
giving opportunities for out-door exercise and 
pure air. Certainly it takes more than these to 
make the perfect man or woman equipped to 
meet and contrive conditions of life in a great 
city. But tliis is a step in the right direction 
since it should supplement all other helps. No 
man needs more than a sound mind in a sound 
body to fit him for living. He can then make 
opportunities. Yes ! he needs one thing more he 
must understand his body and discipline his mind 
to control it. The aim of the best charities of the 
day is to help the poor to heliJ them selves. It 
must be evident that they can best help them- 
selves when they understand themselves and no 
one line of education is so potent in this direction 
as that broadest form of physical culture— se// 
culture. 

To understand one's self and all one's relations 
to natural and social laws and to respect and 
perfect these relations is not only the truest 
philosophy the source of the greatest happiness 
but the purest worship the creature can give the 
Creator. Almost all of the sufferings of the poor 
arise from ignorance and inefficiency; Ignoi-ance 
of conditions that surround them, inefficiency to 
cope with them. We are apt to think their 
miseries the result of inequality of conditions, 
but ignorance and inefficiency contribute largely 



to this unequality and the remedy lies with them- 
selves. A perfect equality of environment is 
impossible and not even desirable, but all can be 
taught to know themselves and the laws that 
govern them and can teach themselves to live in 
conformity. The development that follows from 
this self-knoAvledge and discipline fits them to 
better understand and control their environments 
and the absence of friction in thus living brings 
contentment— a state of mind to be attained not 
because of conditions but despite them. He lives 
best who understands his physical organization 
and preserves and controls its functions so that 
his life may achieve the greatest good to the 
greatest number. This is only possible when the 
powers of the mind are used to discipline and 
control the body. Then only begins true spiritual 
development and the body become "a temple fit 
for the indwelling of the Spirit of God." 

So much for the theoretic side of this help for 
want and miserj'. For the practical side it is not 
only entirely feasible but from an economic 
standpoint, a good investment to establish in 
evei-y tenement district of the city, night classes 
for those employed during the day and afternoon 
classes for children where they may be taught 
physical culture and the economy of effort. 

Not that kind that has for its standard the 
prize figliter, the sprinter, the foot-ball and golf 
fiends but how to live rightly. This implies anat- 
omy, physiology, hygiene, social economy and 
the relations of life that stimulate self-respect. 
Every useful member of society has this to learn. 
He commonly begins to feel that he knows.some- 
thing about it when he is about ready to die. 
Why should ho not learn how to live in the morn- 



66 



The Abigail 



ing of life and not at its closing. Such instruction 
not only equips for living but it prevents crime 
by directing energy into right channels that 
tends to vicious ones. Of course among the 
ignorant such teaching must be adapted — brought 
to the level of the understanding. This takes 
love, faith, courage, patience and tact for the 
seed-time, and who shall measure the harvest. 
—Isabella G. Stanley. 



very busy lives,we are well convinced; still it will 
well pay to sacrifice occasionally some part of 
their time to take a glimpse at the school ; the 
pleasant recollections will make up for the loss. 
We thank our visitors aud hope for more visits; 
no limit set to time, any time suits us, the child- 
ren are desirous to be visited at all times, come 
once, come again, come often ! 



"OUR VISITORS." 

AMONG our visitors last month we had the 
extreme pleasure to number Mrs. J. S. 
Huyler and Mrs. E. Lobdell. 

Both ladies are old friends and well-wishers of 
the School. 

Mrs. Huyler is the wife of our founder and 
President. 

The children in their gambols and exercises 
became such an attraction, that both ladies spent 
the greater part of the day in School. 

To the children their visit has been a treat. 
They have not yet ceased to relate their exper- 
ience, all are under the impression that Mrs. 
Huyler and her friend did bestow some particular 
attention upon each of them individually. 

I know it does our friends good to visit the 
children and see the school in operation it starts 
their thoughts impelling their hearts to s^'mpath- 
ise and become practically interested. 

But what about the children ? They simply 
revel in the pleasurable thoughts of having been 
visited, seen, looked at, spoken to by strangers 
whom they at a glance vote as their friends. 

And it is a great encouragement all around to 
receive the visits of friends. Approvals and dis- 
approvals, suggestions and counsels are gladly 
noted, compared and stored for future guidance 
and experimentation in the work. 

Mrs. L. S. Smith also has favored us with a 
visit during the month and has left behind her 
a universal desire to have her visit soon repeated 
bringing with her some of her friends. 

Mrs. Nielsen also has paid us a visit and the 
children are always so glad to see her, 

At the beginning of this month we were 
delighted to see Miss Lillian Lindsley, who has so 
often shown her appreciation of our work. 

We know that she carries with her from every 
visit a new inspiration for work among her own 
wards occupying her missionary interests. The 
young gentleman who was with her seemed also 
well interested and taken up with the principle 
underlying our work. Mrs. Devare the General 
Manager was confined to her room by some indi- 
pusition and regretted very much not to be able 
to see them. 

The lives of peoi^le, of good people, of our 
friends and of our members and contributors, are 



OUR GYMNASIUM ! 

The gymnastic implements in our yard are 
proving of great comfort to oui- children. 
Mr. J. M. Burdick, of 138 Wooster Street, has 
kindlj^ donated us some lumber with which we 
were enabled to construct some of the appar- 
atus needed. 

Rope ladders, climbing poles, pole ladders, par- 
allel bars, horizontal bars, swinging rings, are 
the attractions for the boys. 

It is interesting to see the youngsters swarm 
around them, anxious to stretch and straighten 
their limbs and to expand their chests. 

Punching bag, and Whitley exerciser are also 
things which the boys, and girls as well delight 
to practice with. 

We have besides, six good solid swings in our 
yard; whenever the weather allows, we give up 
as much time as convenient to these out-door 
recreations. 

Our school has become a realistic place for 
moral and physical development. 



This man has his defects ; yet he cherishes 
truth and defends justice. And petty souls ex- 
claim ; " Oh, the inconsistency ! Oh, the scan- 
dal ! " . . . But pious hearts say : "Oh, the 
native nobility of the man ! Oh, the happy con- 
tradictions of the Christian ! ' ' 



The wonderful instinct of the elephant is veri- 
fied by the fact that Sir Samuel Baker, who wrote 
so entertainingly about Caylon, says that in spite 
of the great weight of the elephant, and the fact 
that the animal lives in countries where human 
beings and domestic animals are frequently lost 
in marshes, no elephant was ever found stuck in 
the mud. Another instance, reported as having 
occurred in India, is as follows: ''A train of 
artillery going to Seringapatam had to cross the 
shingly bed of a river. A man Avho was sitting 
on a gun carriage fell ; in another second the 
wheel would have passed over his body. An 
elephant, walking by the side of the carriage, 
saw the danger, and instantly, without any order 
from his keeper, lifted the wheel from the ground, 
leaving the fallen man uninjured." — The American 
Field. 



The Abigail 



67 



BEST. 

Mother, I see you with your nursery light, 
Leading your babies, all in while. 

To their sweet rest; 
Christ, the Good Shepherd carries mine to-night. 

And that is best. 

I cannot help tears, when I see them twine 
Their fingers in yours and their bright curls shine 

On your warm breast: 
But the Saviour's is purer than j'ours or mine- 
He can love best I 

You tremble each hour because your arms 
Are weak ; your heart is wrung with alarms, 

And sore oppressed ; 
My darlings are safe, out of reach of harms, 

And that is best. 

Vou know, over yours may hang even now 
Pain and disease, whose fulfilling slow 

Naught can arrest ; 
Mine in God's garden's run to and fro, 

And that is best, 

You know that, of yours, your feeblest one 
And dearest may live long j'ears alone. 

Unloved, unblest ; 
Mine are cherished of saints around God's throne. 

And that is best. 

You must dreadjfor yours the crime that sears. 
Dark guilt unwashed by repentant tears. 

And unconfessed ; 
Mine entered spotless on eternal years. 

O, how much the best I 

But grief is selfish ; I cannot see 
Always why I should so stricken be 

More than the rest ; 
But I know that, as well as for them, (or me 

God did the best. 

— Sent in by "Aunt Joj. 



CHARITIES." 



'■' Charities," the official organ of the Charity 
Organization Society of the City of New York, 
for October has just come to hand. It is always 
a welcome sheet to our table, it is at all times 
full of interest to us. 

This number contains an address by Mr. Edward 
T. Devine, the Secretary of the Charity Organi- 
zation, delivered at Newark, N. J. 

The subject is "Co-operation among Societies." 
Anybody that has conversed with or read of Mr. 
Devine, of course, will be at once familiar with 
the sound and practical reasoning, suggestions 
and advice contained in this address. 

More of such talk will, I am sure, do away with 
all the bickering and littleness that at times 
creep in among well meaning peojile intent upon 
the pure,st of objects with the purest of motives. 

We invite our readers to procure a copy of the 
October number of Charities and peruse the ad- 
dress of Mr. Devnne. _ 

The reading of it will do us all good and make 
us cautious, co-operative, large-hearted and bring 
us a step closer to that most beautiful of all bonds 
'•' Charity." 

Our thanks are due to Brother Devine I 



A GENTLEMAN. 



Every man who tells the truth, thinks with his 
brain which will lead him to God, works with 
his hands which will make him work for his 
living, and who does not live on the pickings 
from his neighbor's pockets ; is a gentleman. 

This is our crude explanation to our children of 
what constitutes a gentleman. 



Who suffers more, the capable man who is at 
the bottom and who should be at the top, or the 
mediocre man who is at the top and ought to be 
at the bottom. 

FOOD can be greatly improved by Steam Cooking. 




You can see by the cut on the left that the spring valve retains 
the steam to a pressure of about four pounds to the square inch, if the 
pressure gets higher, the safety valve allows the steam to escape, that 
gives you a high temperature of 235°. 

These vessels are used for cooking Meats, Soups, Fruits and 
Vegetables, as well as Cereals. 

Send for illustrated descriptive circular. 

A. MAvlOR/ . 

461 Pearl Street, Ne-w York City. 



On Monday, October 34th, our regular quarterly 
meeting was held at the school. 

All the members of the board were present 
with the exception of Mr. Wm. Baldwin who sent 
his regrets, and Mr. S. S. Swaim who went to 
Germany for a few weeks rest. 

The President of the School, Mr. J. S. Huyler 
presided at the meeting. The different reports 
seemed to be very gratifying and led to many en- 
couraging remarks and some very interesting 
discussions. Our Business Manager, Mrs. I. G. 
Stanley by invitation attended the meeting and 
gave a very interesting accounts of the dealings 
with the patrons of our work. 

Later in the meeting Mr. E. W. Bennett and 
our old and dear friend Mr. A. W. Dennett called 
and added to the harmonious ensemble. All the 
members present had an opportunity to take a 
peep at the children unobserved and we feel that 
the sight, wtiich greeted the-m, filled them with- 
geniiiue pleasure and satisfaction. 



68 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 

C. Pr. DtVARE, Editor. Mrs. J. V. DENNETT, Assistant Editor. 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, soc Per V;ar. = cents Per Copy, 



All Communlcalions, Subscriptions, etc., sliouia be sent to the Edi- 
tor, lOi Sullivan Street, Borough ot Manhattan, X. T. City. 



'Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." Luke XVIII., i6, 

ISTew York, Novembee, 1893. 
EDITOEIAL. 

AS THE CHILD SO THE MAN I 



"The childhood shows the man, as morning 
shows the day." Milton when saying the above 
in his " Paradise Regained," uttei-ed a trutli that 
is as fixed as the the eternal principle. 

The training of a child is the first essential to 
its development. As the little twig grove's into 
a sapling and thence into a strong tree, if it has 
been properly protected from the exposure 
of the winds and storms and has been provided 
with the proper care to be sustained, so the child 
if properh^ nursed and trained and taught, pro- 
vided with the i^roper rules for guidance in its 
youth, will grow into the man and woman rep- 
resenting the object which the Creator had in 
view when calling it into existence. 

God in creating the child has provided it with 
the care of a father and mother who should rep- 
resent Him in the care and training which is its 
birthright. 

It is the most natural position for a child to be 
cared, trained, taught and guided hj its parents. 

In most cases, the Providence of the Creator is 
borne out and carried to a successful issue. , 

Children grow to be men and womeu, the staft' 
and guide of their parents and an honorable 
addition to God's familj- on earth, called society. 

These rules for training children are fixed 
and the results, all circumstances being favor- 
able, are also fixedly unquestionable. 

Would that they could be applied to all chilu- 
reu ; but unfortunately hosts of children in our 
densely populated cities are growing up without 
parental care and guidance. 

•Left like inferior animals to rave and root, they 
grow up without ■ any marks of civilization im- 



printed upon their character and thus in the 
near future form a dangerous element in society. 

The neglect of the past to such children, whom 
we may Avell class as dependent, has resulted in 
our cities becoming infested with a hoodlum 
population, the alarming number of which well 
nigh makes us stagger in our efforts to reclaim 
or improve them. 

Somebody must reach out their hands in time 
to these little waifs, who have come among us 
not through their volition, and who also not by 
their choice are left without the proper guides to 
steer them towards a course of usefulness. 

Parents are often hindered from giving the care 
to their offspring which God and society have a 
right to expect. 

Sometimes it is ignorance, again it is degrada- 
tion and vice, moretimes it is utter phj'sical in- 
capacitj', produced by unequal economical con- 
ditions, that leave these little ones dependent. 

The people of the Abigail Free School and Kin- 
dergarten have come to the rescue and have 
taken upon themselves to partly reform this 
growing incongruity and adopt the children of 
the vicinage as their wards, train them by sup- 
plying through love born by love, the domestic 
education, of Avhich they are cruelly deprived, 
prepare them for the rightful pursuits of youth, 
and laj^ in them the foundations of manhood and 
womanhood, making them thus the equals in 
their start with their more fortunate little broth- 
ers and sisters of the land for the honor of God 
and the well being of societv. 



MISFITS IN EDUCATION ! 



Are we not too profligate with our educational 
attractions. 

Do we not waste a great lot of material by un- 
studied application . The principle of equality 
properly taught and understood applies to those 
who have natural gifts. 

Is it right to give a free education, a course of 
higher studies, classics and the arts to a thousand 
mediocrities Avith the chance of finding one gen- 
ius amongst them ? 

We may get the one, but the nine hundred cxnd 
ninety-nine are unfitted for any other way of 
earning a livelihood. 

Too much is done, we are going too far and in 
the wrong direction. 

Hundreds of laborers and tinkers daughters 
are taking prizes for music, and prizes for draw- 
ing, and we shall have thousands of them strug- 
gling to get a living, where there is no room for 
them. Let them be taught a useful trade. 

The girl who Avould have been a capital house- 
maid, thinks she ought to have been a '•' prima 
douna," and in the struggle for existence sinks 
far below her level : the lad who ■would have 



The Abigail 



69 



been an excellent stonemason, owes society a 
grudge for not finding a patron to keep him go- 
ing till he can be a " Michael Angelo," and 
floats down the tide like driftwood. 

Musicians and artists are not strictly necess- 
ary, they are like barristers and doctors, we 
could do very well with five where we have fiftj-; 
and there will be always enough of them with 
natural gifts that would bring tliem to the front 
without artificial help from the outside. 

Education for every child by all means and it 
must be free and should be, if demands arise, 
compulsory. 

But education should be limited and graded 
not by a distinction of poor and rich, but by a 
proper distinction of natural qualities, propensi- 
ties, inclinations, zeal and fitness. Here is a 
theme for our educators, tliat must sooner or 
later and the sooner the better, command their 
practical attention . 



OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE UNFORT- 
UNATE ! 



THE GROWTH OF OUR CHILDREN." 



We often meet men, who, when they are asked 
to extend a helping hand to their fellow men or 
to help a cause that strives to abolish part of the 
evil of the failures in social life, turn away with 
a shrug, exclaiming at the same time, that they 
had to make their own way, and made it, recom- 
mending to others to do the same. 

Might we not ask them to pause and do a little 
honest thinking, with an uplifting of their hearts 
to Him who holds all. 

We suggest to them the following for a line of 
thought. 

"All men cannot make their way." To assume 
this would be a monstrous i^erversion of the rules 
by which this world is managed and governed. 

If all made their way, their would be no rich 
men and no poor ones. 

Such a condition would create a Utopian chim- 
era that would outrank the wildest dream of 
any of the unbalanced schemers and agitators. 

The great Master Himself has given His au- 
thority as to the necessary existence of the rich 
and poor. 

And again let us say to the unthinking, so pro- 
nounced self-made maia, who has made his way. 

" Every man who makes his way, must neces- 
sarily push many others aside." 

Do we owe a duty to those whom our success 
has pushed aside and left behind in the race ? 
Think, ponder and consult I 



Repress a certain disposition to treat as ene- 
mies those who do i;ot believe, pray, think_ act 
nor spea^ as thou dost. 



The true unsectarian spirit of the work in the 
Abigail School is well illustrated by the various 
ecclesiastical establishments in which our child- 
ren, after leaving our preparatory Sunday-School 
Department, find an asylum for religious and 
church development. 

All the churches in the neighborliood, have 
some of our children upon their list of atten- 
dance. 

St. Ambrose Church, Washington Square 
Church, Judson Memorial Church, Spring Street 
Church, in fact all the leading denominational 
churches draw upon the suppl}' created by our 
system. 

Often we note the absence of some of our boys 
and girls from our praise meetings ; we meet 
them and ask them the reason for not coming 
to their meetings 

When they tell us that they attend the meet- 
ings, class meetings or club meetings of some 
particular church, where they find themselves at 
home, we answer them with a '■ Lord Bless you " 
and advise them to be regular and strict attend- 
ants. 

These boys and girls would not have found 
their way into the church, were it not for our 
supplying them Avith that domestic and preprim- 
ary education, which the confused state of their 
own hearth had denied them. 

They would spend their time with other urchins 
and hoodlums providing pandemoniums for the 
frequenters of the streets. 

Honest efforts, under the guidance of Him, 
who is the only momentum for good, practically 
applied to the child in its most tender age, are 
efforts that j'ield fruit; its results are as infalli- 
ble as the rules laid down by that primeval 
principle, which governs the world and all 
creatures,which is embodied in the great God our 
Father and in the great problem of salvation 
pronounced by Him through His Son our Saviour 
and Redeemer. 



A WOMAN rises to lisr husband's position ; a 
wife sinks to her husband's level. 

The man of talent wlio is born poor, can neither 
take care of himself, noi" place himself where, 
when, and as he should. 

Daily bread solicits his attention first of alJ, 
and holds him captive from the beginning. 

He cannot live according to his mind, except 
at "'leisure" hours, by hiding himself, and com- 
promising himself. Possessing neither complete 
liberty, complete independence, complete ease, 
nor complete respect, he runs a great risk, if he 
ai'rives at . the goal at aU. of arriving old and 
way worn. 



70 



The Abigail 



LOVE MIGHTIER THAN DEATH. 



BEACONS.— SIGNAL FIRES. 



[The following lines were favorite with the late Rev. Dr. Studley. 
He carried them for many years in his pocket, and used often to re- 
peat them as poisessing a peculiar balm for sore and stricken hearts:] 



'Tis all a whirl, a dizzy whirl, 

And men and women come and go ; 
'Twas thus when I was but a girl — 

Now years have sent their flakes of snow 

Upon the locks that erst were brown ; 

And still I see about the town 

The eager faces, and the street 

Is thronging stiil with busy feet. 

I hear the sound, I hear the rush. 

The trampling, trampling, o'er and o'er ; 

But in my heart there is a hush. 
A pain for steps that come no more ; 
I listen still to catch the ring, 
My own glad foot prepared to spring, 
To greet as they approach the door, 
The blessed steps that come no more. 

But men and boys go in and out. 

And merrily the world goes on ; 
I listen midst the joyous rout 

To catch the voices that are gone ; 

I go about the household cares. 

See how the dog and kitten fares, 

I sweep the rug or make the bed, 

Still thinking, thinking of the dead. 

And they? Do they, amid the host 
That throng along the golden street, 

A moment pause in memory lost — 
And listen for our coming feet ? 
While angels all around rejoice, 
Remember they our earthly voice ? 
O, can those pearly gates above 
Shut out from them ouryearninj love ? 

Or do they sometimes sit apart. 

And ponder on the precious past ? 
Remember they, with loving heart, 

That trembling kiss — it was the last? 

They cannot sure forget its thrill ; 

Its presence lingers round them still, 

For 'twas a soul — twas not a breath — 

And love is mightier than death ! 

—Selaled l>y"A uiit Joe. ' 



It is a singular fact, bat nevertheless true, that 
when two young men meet they address each 
ather, "How are you, old man ? " and that Avhen 
two old fellows meet they say, "My boy." 

Linger at the place of secret prayer. If you 
lo not know what to pray about, look to Jesus 
for Him to give jou a prayer. Look to Him for 
your prayer and your faith. After you have 
opened all your heart to Him, take time to linger 
tor His answer, to listen to marching orders; and 
should He choose not to speak, trust Him just 
the same, and take time to adore Him.— "4'm^- 
Joe " choice from McLaren. 



NOTICES found in the literary remains of 
Persia, Palestine, and Greece, indicated 
that the same practices existed among those 
nations as have been found among the Indians of 
the great plains of North America, who used and 
still use, fires on elevated points at night, and 
dense clouds of smoke by day. Similar methods 
of communicating information are still common 
among savage races elsewhere, and have existed 
from the earliest ages. Quite recently the des- 
patches from the West told of the signal-fires of 
the Apache Indians, who were at that time on 
the war-path. 

The Greek poet ^schylus, in the tragedy of 
Agamemnon, makes the great general communi- 
cate the intelligence of the fall of Troy to his 
Queen at Mycense by a long line of beacons on 
eight successive mountains. The news is suppos- 
ed to have been conveyed in one night from Troy 
to Mycente, a distance about the same as would 
be covered by a modern night express train 
between dark and daylight. 

About the same time as the alleged Trojan 
disaster, Isaiah, in pronouncing a woe upon re- 
bellious Israel, said : " At the rebuke of five 
shall ye flee, till ye be left as a beacon upon the 
top of a mountain and as an ensign on a hill." 
And a hundred years later Jeremiah plainly 
alludes to the same thing when he says : " ye 
children of Benjamin, gather j^ourselves to flee 
out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the 
trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in 
Bethhaccerem ; for evil appeareth out of the 
north, and great destruction."' 

Coming down twenty-six centuries at a single 
step, we find that in Scotland, in 1455, one fire 
was to give warning of the approach of the 
English, two fires meant that they wei-e coming 
indeed, and four that they were coming in great 
force. 

In England beacons were kept up by a county 
tax, and watches were regularly stationed at 
thein with horsemen to spread intelligence when 
the beacons could not be seen. They were care- 
fully organized while the Spanish Armada in 1588 
was expected. 

In the beginning of 1856 an old beacon works 
on Malvern Hill, in Worcestershire, which had 
served in former days to spread intelligence of 
the Armada, or of the young Chevaliei-, or of the 
Dutch fleet, was lighted up in anticipation of the 
close of the Crimean war, and afforded interesting- 
amusement to scientific persons in estimating the' 
distance at which the blaze could be seen from 
distant mountains.— " Posfei and Telegraph 
World." •■• 

What is a virtuous man ? Some one who pos- 
sesses a perfect whole of religious, social ancl 
domestic virtues, perfumed with delicacy. 



The Abigail 



71 



Marshall Saunders tells us that in Scotland 
seven thousand children Avere carefully trained 
in kindness to each other and to dumb animals. 
It is claimed that not one of these in after years 
was ever tried for any criminal offense in any 
court. How does that argue for humane educat- 
ion ? Is not this heart ti-aining of our boys and 
girls one which ought to claim the deepest sym- 
pathy and most ready support fi'om us when we 
think of what it means to our future civilization? 
''A brutalized child," says this great-hearted 
woman, "is a lost child." And surely in permitt- 
ing any act of cruelty on the part of our children 
we brutalize them, and, as teachers and parents 
are responsible for the result of our neglect in 
failing to teach them the golden rule of kindness 
to all of God's creatures. It is said that out of 
two thousand criminals examined recently in 
American prisons, only twelve admitted that 
they had been kind to animals during youth. 
What strength does that fact contain as an argu- 
ment for humane education ? — Birds. 



The following contributions were received since we went to press 
last, wliich we acknowledge with thanks. 

II. A. Schenk $2; Fr. Scott of Century Pub. Co I5; Louis 
Metzger &Co$5; II. B. $5; W.H.Wright & Sons I barrel of 
vegetables; James Redmond & Sons 2]^ lbs cocoa; G. R. Ritter 
10 lbs of jelley; Geo. J. D. Mayne & Co I doz baking soda; 
Frederick Akers 20 lbs coffee; Edv\-. D. Depew & Co 100 lbs sugar; 
Henry Heide 30 lbs cocoa; H. A. Flagg i barrel sweet potatoes; 
Ehrich Bros lot of outing-flannel; N. Y. Desk and Furniture Co I 
desk; \V. G. Dean & Co i doz licorice tablets; American Flag Co 
rebate on flag; Conrow Bros & Co stationery; Everitt, Haney & Co 
material for sewing school; Dunham Mfg Co 2 doz coca-nut; Coates 
Thread Co 12 doz thread; Continental Match Co 5 gross matches; 
J. ISI. Burdick lumber; Geo. F. Codington's Son 2 tons of coal; 
Jacob Baiz 3 lbs coffee; J. H. Bertine I qt mucilage and blotters; G. 
iDa 25cts; Charles Kipp socts; Abika We nberg socts; B. McCann 
$1; John Duffv $1; J. R. Singleton 50CIS: Hermann Kahn socts; 
Frank Littlefield socts; Otto Lehmann socts; E. C. Parker $i; E. 
A. D. 50 cts; W. J. O. 50 cts; J. McMullin 2scts; J. G. F. 25cts; 
W. L. P. socts; J. Hewlett I3; Warwick & Thompson $1; Smith 
&Meinken$i; Davis & Sanford $2: F. C. Y. $2; B. J. Berry 
socts: G;:orge J. Harlan $1: Duveen Bros jti: Henry T. Stepler 
$1; Leo Popper &; Son $1: Ro.senstein Bros |l: P. Scott $1; 
Empire Steam Laundry |2: Favor Ruhl & Co $1: Joseph V. Collins 
%i: Halbe & Moore Si: C. K. Saul f i: Cassidy & Son $i: Thos 
J. Johnson $1; H. J. Schreiber fi: Toch Bros $2: Chas. E. 
Sayre^2: Lemaitre & L'Eplattenier $2: II. Steinhart $3; Peter 
Schneider Sons & Co $5; W. B. Quaintance $1: Excelsior Pipe 
Works socts: C. Bruno $to: Johnson & Morris $1: J.Rosenblatt 
2Scts: H. H. Palmer & Co |io; Herrmann Behr i!fc Co #2: Philip 
Semmer Glass Co socts; J. & M. Dclanney f i; Jacob Bender $r; 
AVm. Gardam & Son jSi; G. Schirmer $2: Lasker & Levy %i: 
Bernard Levy $1: C. F. Baity $1: A. H. Scribner $5: A. J. 
Chnton $1: W. R. Christmas f s: M- & W. H. fr: Miss L. $1: 
F. A. M. Burrell $2: Joseph Faulkner $1: W. L. Stormant $1: 
C. P. Rogers fi: Sullivan, Vail & Co $2: Ad. Levy socts: G. A. 
Feld Co|2: S. O. Church $2: lohn T. Cutting & Co $2: S. T. 
Willets$i: J. D. GolJberg $t: Henry Clementran $io: H. Hoff- 
man®!: M. S Gates $1: .VI. Lambert ff J. McCormick ? 5: 
Thos. Stokes ,$! ; Goldlarb Fishbein & Co $1: A. B. Woll f i: J. 
W U inston 25cts; G. Gandig & Blum socts: L. A. Dubernetfi; 
Hertz & Spitz locts. Charles Miller 35cts: Mrs. A. Schivinke zocts. 
H. K. Wampole & Co i doz cod liver oil. 



All which happens through the whole world 
happens tlirough hope. No husbandman would 
BOW a grain of corn, if he did not hope it would 
spring up and bring forth the ear. How much 
more we are helped on by hope in the way to 
eternal life!— Jlf. Luther. 




Established in 1876, 



MAJOR'S eEMENt 



Price, 15c and 25c per Bottle. 

Specially prepared for household purposes. Mends nriything that 

breaks; Meerschaum, Tipping Uilliind Cues Jnst ihe thing 

to fasten the end (it a bniidage; also, to stick It 

to the skin to keep it in position. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

A wonderful sticker. No Bicyclist should be without It. For 
repairing Rubher Boots, Shoes, Rubber Garments, Sill£ Um- 
brellas. 15 Cents. 
MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

Of surprisinit adhesive power. Boots and Shoes, and articles ot 

Leather. 18 CENTS. 

At Druggists and House Furnishing Stores, or by mail, free of 

postage. 

BEWAEE!!! TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE. 

MAJOR CEMENT CO., 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 

Kerby, Watson & Co.. Mo.\tkeal. 



PHC iBIGAILa- 



A MO.NTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 



JUVENILE MISSION WORK. 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

ISi.oo per incii per insertion. 
$10.00 per inch per year. 



Business and Publication Office : 
104 SUL-L-IVAN STREET, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York. 



72 



The; ; Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
child i.3 the father to tlie man; and as 
the child i ;, so in all probability "will the man be. 
History ar.l experience teach us that the first 
impressions naade upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon tlie child's heart 
maxims and principles that niay caiTy it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the Avorld. In 
all our large cities we have a A-ast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thorouglily for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
v.-ho a,r3 now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had tliey only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
T!ie unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various liues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

Tlie Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized ni May, ISSf) : It was incorporated in 
ilarch, 1305. 

Durin'; its existence over 11,000 children have 
pass2il through its hands. These children have 
been trainc;! and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by tlie fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during tlieir public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on tliis grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
crealo r.inv..' like it. 

A ycr.rly contrilaitiou of -slo.ou will admit you 
a:; a supporting memrber. A contribution of 8:25.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to ]\onorary 
directorship. 

Wo ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it: It' then you find it convenient to respond 
witli }'o;;r sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will b- appreciated. January, 189S. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $150 to 8300 per month: Toys and 
l>ooks,Hyinn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters. 
Donation, etc., to bo sent to the Suiserintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



I. 

The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 
II. 

This institution guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 

The School will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility Avill also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for boA'S and girls. 
V. 

The age at Avliich children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind Avill be made, and no 
remuneration Avill be receiA'ed from those Avho 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 

The children Avill be i3ro\'ided Avith games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industrA' and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
Avill be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children Avho attend this School Avill be 
provided each daA^ Avith a substantial lunch. 
X. 

A record Avill be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A SeAving School for girls under fourteen years 
of age Avho attend public school, holds sessions 
tAvice a Aveek. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 

Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and ThursdaA' eA^enings, 7.30 
P. M. ' XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory, is held 10.30 A. M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School : open 
everA' WednesdaA- -1 P M. 
XV. 

EA'ery Aveek day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
■i P. M., the School is throAvn open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend public 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs 0.30 P.M. 



:C1 




Oi^e Sel?oo 



O^e lap^tia^e 



Entered a.a Second Class matter at tlio New York, N. Y. Post Office, April 8tli, : 



Vol. I, No. 10. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, December, 1898. 



50c PER Year 



A CHARITY ENTERTAINMENT NUISANCE. 



The season of entei'tainments for charitable 
purposes having just begun, we venture to call 
attention to a practice on the part of the mana- 
gers of many of them which ought to be sup- 
pressed as a nuisance. It is that of sending, to 
persons who have not asked for them, a greater 
or less number of tickets for an entertainment, 
with a request to return either the tickets or 
their price. Sometimes a stamped envelope is 
inclosed with the tickets, but oftener it is not; 
and in either case, if the request to return is 
complied with, the recipient is put to the trouble 
of writing a note to show by whom the return is 
made. 

Of course, there is no obligation, either moral 
or legal, to pay attention to this attempt to ex- 
tort contributions from the intended victims of 
it, but most people fear that if they do not return 
the tickets they may be annoyed, as, indeed, they 
often are, by a demand for the money for them. 
The more prudent content themselves with lay- 
ing away the tickets in a safe place, so that they 
may be able to show, on occasion, that they have 
not used them. 

What makes the nuisance more exasperating 
is, that it is frequently inflicted by impostors 
who resort to it for their own profit. Under the 
pretence of soliciting aid for charitable i^urposes, 
they get up a more or less worthless concert, or 
recital, or something of that kind, name an im- 
aginary or bogus institution as the beneficiary, 
and pocket the proceeds. In this great city it is 
impossible always to detect the fraud thus at- 
tempted, and its occasional success, followed by 



detection, brings everything bearing a resemb- 
lance to it under suspicion. 

The better way for the managers of charities 
is to ask for contributions in aid of them frankly, 
and leave the result to the judgment of the 
people to whom they appeal. In most cases, the 
giving of entertainments for which tickets are 
sold is a waste of labor and money. The net 
results are less than they would be if the enter- 
tainments were not given at all, and the vexation 
and trouble which they occasion are incalculable. 



The above is clipped from 'the editorial col- 
umns of the New York Sun, date November 30th . 

Heartily glad we are that the Ne^v York Sun, a 
household paper, par excellence, has taken up 
this subject and meted out a well observed re- 
buke. The advice contained in the closing lines 
of the above is worth reading and comes very 
timely. 

The Charity Organization Society has for some 
years past used every effort to stamp out this 
compromising method of raising funds for charit- 
able purposes; it has succeeded in a great 
measure. It will greatly add to the dignity 
of charity if the doors of charitable institu- 
tions were closed to a band of so called 
promotors, most of whom have not a scintilla of 
feeling akin to the objects of the charitable 
enterprise which they undertake to aid. 



An exchange says that a new way of cleaning- 
gilt picture frames is to soak them in beer. We 
know of a good many frames that are soaked in 
beer, and they are not gilt either. 



^4 



the Abigail 



HAPPINESS AN ART AND A DUTY. 



The ordinary view of happiness is that of a 
condition of pleasurable content, produced by 
the satisfaction of desires. It is rarely insisted 
upon, as a duty, because it is supposed to depend 
chiefly on circumstances over which we can 
have little or no control. We all wish and hope 
that in some way we may be made happy; but 
the idea of making ourselves so is seldom enter- 
tained. We are glad to meet a happy man, and 
congratulate him; we are sorry for the unhappy 
and compassionate him ; but we seldom venture 
to commend the one, or to criticise the other on 
this account. 

Yet happiness as a permanent possession, is 
no accident either of birth or circumstances. It 
does not always fly to the favored child of 
fortune, nor always forsake the child of adver- 
sity. Some who have abundant means of enjoy- 
ment, wealth, friends, family, position, health, 
and power of mind and body are still far from 
happy; while others, enduring many privations, 
hardships, trials and sorrows, yet "turn all the 
voices of nature into one song of rejoicing." 

It cannot be ilenied that there are good people 
V If) lav ■ n >t yet laarncid this lesson, but they 
I. )y dj aiuc.i deficient in goodness. They 
i:.a u i.iy Jutijs coascientiausly, and deny 
ii> I -s Oitdn for worthy purposes; but they 
.1 ;ujla:icholy feelings, brood over their 
< M- ouppo.sea troubles, or the evils of the 
.vroria, an \ drive from them the young and cheer- 
ful by tlioir heaviness and gloom. 

Witli all their allegiance to duty, they have 
never become convinced of the duty of happiness. 
They will freely give their substa .ce or their 
labor to those who need it; but it does not occur 
to them, that if they were themselves happy and 
bright, they would be the means of shedding 
happiness by their simple presence upon all who 
come within its influence. The unconscious 
good done in this way can never be measured. 



enough to possess the materials; we must be able 
to work them up effectively. 



Happiness as a constant condition of mind, is 
far more the result of what is within us, than of 
what comes to us from without. If a man be of 
a contented spirit, moderate in his desires, tem- 
perate in his appetites, diligent and faithful in 
his labors, affectionate and generous in his dis 
position, calm and self-possessed, interested in 
good objects for their own sake, and glad to aid 
them by his own efforts —he possesses more of 
the materials of happiness than many a one with 
double his external advantages. It is life in its 
best sense which makes us happy, and happiness 
in its turn, nourishes life. 

But happiness is more than an eft'ect, even of 
character and conduct. It is an art. It is not 



To be happy, then, is no selfish indulgence, no 
favored condition of fortune ; it is a duty we owe 
to others and to ourselves, a state of mind which 
Ave should all strive to acquire. As has been 
already said, it is an art ; one which is often neg- 
lected, but which may be cultivated to any 
extent. Certainly, men;cannot make themselves 
happy by a mere effort of the will. A more deli- 
cate and gradual preparation is necessary. If 
any one, instead of wasting his time in repining 
at unfulfilled desires, will think frequently on 
the materials he possesses for present happiness, 
he will be astonished at their richness and num- 
ber. Life itself, health, friends, family, the 
ability to labor, the capacity to enjoy, the power 
to command certain forms of enjoyment, the 
beauties of nature and of Art, the delights of 
affection, the opportunities for improvement, the 
power of sympathy and of help — these and many 
other blessings will occur to him who is in search 
of them. Let him dwell lovingly and gratefully 
upon these, let him consider how to make the 
most of them, by neglecting no opportunity and 
shutting out nothing from his life that can 
brighten and invigorate it. Dante says : 

" Whoever deprives himself of life and light, 
In restless lavishment his talent wastes. 
And sorrows then, when he should dwell in 
joy." 



Certainly there are and will be trials to face, 
misfortunes to bear, griefs to endure, but it is 
not the melancholy and foreboding who will pass 
through them ■vv^ith most courage and fortitude. 
He who has learned the secret of a happy life 
will hold his head before the storm, but will 
gladly lift it again to welcome the returning 
sunlight. Many of the troubles men suffer are 
imaginary and born of their fears; many of them 
are trifles unworthy to dwell in their thoughts; 
many more might be avoided by care on their 
own part, and very many contain within them 
the seeds of good to themselvss and benefit to 
others that would be produced in no other way . 
The art of happiness is to extract the good where- 
ever it may be found ; to make it prominent and 
keep it uppermost in the mind ; to emphasize 
every blessing; to welcome every joy, and to 
take delight in witnessing the happiness of others 
and in adding to it whenever it is possible. The 
happy man is like a ray of sunlight, shedding 
warmth and brightness on all who approach 
him; and he, who on the other hand, casts the 
cold and dark shadow of his own unhappiness 
around him, whatever virtues he may possess, 
leaves a large and important part of his duty 
unfulfilled. 



The Abigail 



75 



UNDER THE HOLLY BOUGH. 

Ve who have scorned each other, 
Or injured friend or brother, 

In this fast-fading year; 
Ye who by word or deed. 
Have made a kind heart bleed. 

Come gather here ! 

Let sinned against and sinning 
Forget their strife's beginning, 

And join in friendship now; 
Be links no longer broken. 
Be sweet forgiveness spoken, 

Under the Holly Bough. 

Ye who have loved each other. 
Sister, friend and brother, 

In this fast-fading yetr; 
Mother ana sire and child, 
You-ig man and maiden mild. 

Come gather here ! 

And let your hearts grow fonder. 
As memory shall ponder 

Each past unbroken vow; 
Old loves and younger wooing 
Are sweet in the renewing, 

Under the Holly Bough. 

Ye who have nourished sadness. 
Estranged from hope and gladness. 

In the fast-fading year; 
Ye with o'erburdened mind. 
Made aliens from your kind, 

Come gather here ! 

Let not the useless sorrow 
Pursue you night and moirow, 

If e'er you hoped, hope now. 
Take heart: uncloud your faces. 
And join in our embraces. 

Under the Holly Bough. 



THE ROOT. 



COACHES. 



When a tree has to grow high and strong, it is 
the root that grows first. The musJiroom will 
grow in three hours, under favorable conditions 
— it has only a little bit to grow — but the oak, do 
not ask the oak to fling its leaves very early on 
the summer winds: that oak grows slowly, but 
it is built for a thousand years, and has to grow 
for hundreds of years — and the root is the 
growth. So with our souls, we are to grow for 
eternity, and I believe that the most of our 
gi-owth in this life is the root-growth, downward 
in humility and self-denial, not upright in show 
and splendor. Do not let the lack of conscious 
growth disturb you to-day, you will iievei- be 
conscious of growth. Take it in faith, take it in 
tpust. See that the -£wa(ld.Uqg i*a»4.^ ^® "^^ 
f roKi yoTii -aJid he .sure you grow in gr^cs , %^ace 
■grows universally. 



It is probable that the average hack driver is 
unaware of the dignity which is his legacy, or he 
would be still more important and exorbitant 
than he now is; for it is not such a very great 
while since people of the highest rank travelled 
on horseback, and as late as 1550 there were only 
three coaches in Paris, and these had royal or 
noble owners. It was only towards the close of 
the century that carriages began to appear. 
At first they were esteemed proper only for 
ladies and invalids, but in 1474 the Emperor 
Frederick came to attend the council at Frank- 
fort in a close carriage and the next year visited 
the same city in a magnificent covered vehicle. 
It was not until about the date of the settlement 
of New England that they became at all common; 
and it is only about two hundred and fift^' years 
since coaches began to be kept for hire in London, 
and the date is considerably more recent when 
stage-coaches began to be a factor in the trans- 
portation of either passengers or mails. The 
highest speed of the English stage-coach in the 
eighteenth century was only about forty miles 
in twenty-four hours, and when in 1785 — only a 
hundred years ago — " a two end glass coach- 
machine, hung on steel springs exceedingly light 
and easy," was advertised to go through from 
London to Edinburgh in ten days in summer and 
twelve in winter, the whole United Kingdom 
thrilled with astonishment and pride at the im- 
proved rapid transit. It is not unlikely that the 
expression "post haste" came into use about 
those days. — "Postal and Telegraph World." 

The folly which we might have ourselves com- 
mitted is the one which we are least ready to 
pardon in another. 

On earth we obtain nothing without effort; 
how, without virtue, shall we attain glory in 
heaven ? 

FOOD can be greatly improved by Steam Cooking. 




Vou can see by the cut on the left that the spring valve retains 
the steam to a pressure of about four pounds to the square inch, if the 
pressure gets higher, the safety valve allows the steam to escape, that 
gives you a high temparature of 235° 

These vessels are used for cooking Meats, Soups, bruits and 
Vegetables as well as Cereals. 

-Send -for illustrated descriptive circular. 

A. MA-JOFIj 



75 



The Abigail 



The Abigail.. 



C. Pr. OtVARE, Editor 



/Irs. J. V.DENNETT, Assistrn' EJitor. 



PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 



Subscription Price, joc Per Y:ar. 



centA Per Copy. 



All Commuuicatious, Subscriptions, etc., should be sent to tbe Edi- 
tor, 101 Sullivan Street, Borough of Manhattan, If. Y. City. 



For every child cared for aud supplied with a 
substitute for domestic training, represents one 
criminal less to be cared for by and by by the 
State. 

Who is the State ? Oh, here comes the rub. 
It is society, it is the business community that 
creates upholds and pays for the State. 

Truly radical work like our work is well named 
a work of economy, and is a great source of 
revenue for it saves thousands upon thousands 
of dollars to the State, Society and our Business 
Community. Give it a helping hand. 



'Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." Luke XVllI., 16. 

New York, December, 1898. 

EDITORIAL. 



; ECONOMY IS A GREAT REVENUE. 

This is a truth which has been universally 
acknowledged. Because Cicero 3,000 years ago 
recorded these words for the contemplation of 
the public, and those that were to live after him 
as the centuries rolled by, does not make this 
truth the less fresh and sound. "Magnum est 
v.ectigal pQrsimonia." 

We saw a few weeks ago in one of the leading- 
dailies an account of the annual meeting of the 
Children's Aid Society. The article was headed 
•• Hordes of Destitute Children." The report 
showed that the number of destitute children 
was rapidly increasing; that the treasury was 
empty, that a deficit of $13,157.30 existed and 
that new industrial schools are needed. 

In a great city like ours, the metropolis of com- 
merce peopled by the keenest business men the 
world has ever produced, such conditions should 
not exist. 

The tact of our business men, should see that 
nothing should be wanting to successfully carry 
out all efforts to rescue these destitute children. 

For Economy is a great revenue. We think 
it the greatest of all economy to provide and 
care for the destitute and dependent child; for 
every such child neglected, carries within it a 
possibility for crime which will cause the State 
immense expenditures. Neglect dependent 
children and you have with you the seeds of 
crime. 

Ah! with what zeal inspired by common prud- 
ence ought we not help on such work as carried 
on by the Children's Aid Society. 

With what interest ought we not be glad to 
sustain such radical Avork as carried on by the 
AMgail-free-SGliool-andEiadergartan. 



OUR CHRISTMAS APPEAL. 



Aside from its religious significance, no festival 
of the entire year is so universal and so beautiful 
as that of Christmas ; beautiful in its unity of 
thought and purpose— that of giving pleasure to 
others. 

It is the season when the hard world lays aside 
its greed and selfishness and becomes brighter 
and better, because of its effort to make others 
happy. 

In the homes of the rich and the comfortable 
there is a glow of suppressed excitement, of 
anticipation, and an ever increasing air of mys- 
tery and importance in every member of the 
family. 

How much it would add to our own happiness 
to know that this promise of increased pleasure, 
increased privileges, increased possessions was 
universal. But those who are familiar with life 
among the poor in great cities, know well that 
there is a reverse side to this picture, sad enough 
— that there are thousands of little hearts that 
know nothing of the beautiful season and its 
pleasures, and thousands of others who have not 
even this passive condition of Indifference, to 
whom the tempting disj^lay of the shops, the 
chatter of more fortunate companions, the bundle 
laden crowds that pass them only serve to remind 
that Christmas joys are not for them, and even 
existence is a struggle. 

The Abigail School reaches out yearly to hun- 
dreds of these little waifs. Here they know they 
will be remembered. To them a Christmas tree, 
Avith its glitter and burden of presents, is a 
glimpse of fairyland, lifting them out of the love- 
less, squalid atmosphere of their homes into a 
heaven of light and Avarmth, of music and smiles 
for one entire evening, and leaving an aftergloAv 
of pleasant memories that lasts for many Aveeks. 

It takes so little to make them happy, a coveted 
toy or a bag of SAveets, but even this little needs 
money. 

-Deaf-friends -of the Abigail, Avonld you not 'like 
to be /the 'fairy t« bring joy -into these loA'^eiess 
little lives? - - -- -•■-• 



The Abisiail 



11 



Remember that the demands upon us have 
been doubled withm the past year, yet we have 
sustained our trials with faith and courage. 

■If you can only help with a dollar it will 
encourage us in a work that reaches far into the 
future of useful citizenship for these little people 
whose whole life is a struggle with adverse con- 
ditions. 



WHEN WILL IT CEASE 



We heard a man ask the other day, '•' When 
will this incessant begging for money cease? It 
is call upon call, now for this, now for that, and 
I am sick and weary of it ?'' 

More ask the question than those who, like 
our frank friend, put it into words. 

The answer is as easy as the question. It will 
never cease. It is part of the law of the situa- 
tion. While there remains a sick man, soul sick 
or body sick, an orphan child, a cripple, an out- 
cast, a wretched creature anywhere with any 
wretchedness, the demands will still be made, 
and they will still be answered worse or better. 

When all men on earth are blessed, when the 
sunlight of Heaven gilds the hills and valleys of 
the world, and wraps the blue seas in eternal 
calm, then may men rest from their work and 
their giving — not befox-e. 

Till then let the demands be made, and made 
boldly. The situation is plain. God owns a 
man, and all he has and is, and will be. Ask 
him to give for one of God's purposes. You only 
ask him to accept the situation, to acknowledge 
the facts. There is no call for timidity. Let the 
applicant do his duty. It rests with him to 
whom it applies wiiether he will do his. He 
should at all events be furnished witii frequent 
and favorable opportunities. 

Dear Abigail : 

. I am profoundly interested in the dependent 
litile children sheltered under your motherly 
wings and in the manifold helps you give them 
to grow into useful men and women, but my 
attention was recently very forcibly directed to 
one phase of your helps by an incident that oc- 
curred at one of your children's meetings and 
I was impressed by the general tendency of all 
your work to develop individuals and not copies 
— a need so vital in all education of the young, 
yet one so continuously ignored. 

The incident Avas in no wise remarkable in it- 
self unless it was that so young a child should 
sense the value of his privileges : — 

After a period of singing, where the enthusiasm 
amply condoned the lack of musical accuracj^, 
several timid little souls ventured to pray. One 
fresh .young voice broke out :— '■' Oh,, dear Lord!- 
W&tliank Thee that we have -a Abigai-l ScHOOt- 



to come to where us boys can sing and pray and 
talk and no big folks to interfere." (I ought to 
say that the visitors of whom there were several 
were prudently jolaced in an adjoining room.) I 
was strongly moved to imitate the fervor of our 
good Methodist brethren and cry out ''Amen, 
Lord ! ■' And the brain of thoughts suggested 
brought tears for the pitiful waste of gifts and 
energy to the whole world because " big folks "' 
have always '-'interfered Avitli us boys and girls." 

Teacher, preacher and parent, all to whom are 
intrusted the development of our future men 
and Avomen, proceed to bend and prune and 
graft the tender little twig until the tree is out 
of all semblance to what God meant it to be and 
not even a good imitiation of the '•idol of wood" 
they have set up for a model. 

There is a high model shadowed forth in every 
child's tendencies if we have but unselfishness 
and grace enough to help it -to develop. The 
world needs individuality. There will always 
be plenty of that part of humanity that answers 
for " chinking and daubing." 

The glory of music is in its melodic possibili- 
ties and harmonic combinations. The pleasure 
we get from flowers is largely due to their in- 
finite variety of form and coloring. The land- 
scape would pall upon us if it were laid out after 
fixed forms, and the sky Avould oppress us if it 
were always an "unbroken expanse of blue." 

We aim at variety in everything but the edu- 
cation of children. If anything, the tendency 
here is to repress individual expression and the 
world is full of half-starved, discouraged people 
whose natural bent was forced into some uncon- 
genial channel and to whom the world looks 
awry because some "big folks interfered" at 
the wrong time. 

Poor doctors, lawyers, artists perhaps, who 
might have made successful mechanics. Eest- 
less, aimless women, tinkering at music or liter- 
ature or perhaps fancying themselves reformers 
wlien they might have made the loving efficient 
proof of some sti'ong man's home. Namby, 
pamby, fine ladies who might have become 
glorious women carrying inspiration and vitality 
into their very associatioi: . 

I shake hands Avith you, metaphoricallv, dear 
Abigail, I congratulate you upon the educational 
pinnacle j'ou have reached though you think you 
are Avalking so loAvly. 

Continue to furnish the free healthy atmos- 
phere where your dear little people may de\'elop 
naturally and individually. 

Have the "big folks" there to support, encour- 
age, instruct and, if needs be, discipline but see 
to it that they do not " interfere." 

A Visitor. 

Ah !• hoAV little Ave knoAv those aa'Iio knoAv us 
best. ■■■'■ """"■ 



78 The Abigail 

THE BREAD THAT MOTHER MADE. HOW TO KEEP WARM. 



You may write about your toothsome pies -you puddin's sweet and 
You can give receipts in plenty for cookies, too, an' sich, rich, 

You kin talk about your dough-nuts, and your jelly rolls and cake, 
But I rather have a piece of bread like mother 

Used 

To 

Make ! 

The bread they set before us now is jest as white as snow, 
And for satisfyin' hunger doesn't any further go; 
It's jista ■■ whited sedulker," it is, an no mistake — 
Oh, I wisht I had a piece of bread like mother 

Used 

To 

Make ! 

It was when I was a school boy, 'fore I started for the cow, 
I'd scour the pantry for a lunch (I wisht I had one now!) 
And plenlv of golden butter and pear presurves I'd take. 
And pile it on that splendid bread that mother 

Used 

To 

Make ! 

At good, old-faf;l uifd cookin: mother was a master-hand 
At good, old-fashuned eatin' her son at the head could stand . 
And I never slighted anything from pickles up to cake- 
But you'd ought to seen me reach for bread that mother 

Used 

To 

Make ! 

The truth to you I'm tellin'; now, it nearly turns my head 
Wnen I see the while unnatural stuff they pass to us for bread. 
This roller flour's the fashion now, its fruit we have to take — 
Cut 'tisn't a palchin' to the bread that mother 

Used 

To 

Make! 
— ' ' Selected by A tint Joe. " 



A PUBLIC school teacher of Brooklyn has been 
fined five days' pay for boxing the ears of a pupil. 
The poor little dear was not injured in any way. 
But his nice little feelings were hurt. Now if 
some one were to make inquiries, he would 
probably find that the small boy who had to be 
protected by the whole department from chas- 
tisement at the liand of an instructor, had no 
hesitation in getting into a fight after school 
hours with one of his companions. A bare 
knuckle fight, too, involving a bloody nose, 
black eyes and all the rest of it. In that case he 
would take his punishment like a little man. 
His father, if a sensible person, would shut his 
eyes to the marks of the battle. But in the other 
case all is different. The most outrageous act of 
insubordination must be dealt with only in the 
gentlest manner. Otlierwise the culprit will go 
whining to his mother. 

This lower world must be traversed as ship- 
wrecked mariners traverse the sea, with head 
above the billows, eye and aiuns to-waxds the 
shore. 



A room heated to 70 degrees ought to be warm 
enough except for elderly people, where the cir- 
culation is sluggish. For cold days more fuel 
will be needed, and draughts of stove or furnace 
will need to be opened frequently. 

If, with a good supply of heat, the room does 
not seem warm, open the windows wide for two 
or three minutes and change the air. If the 
oxygen of a room has been used up, no amount 
of artificial heat will make it seem warm enough 
to be comfortable. 

If an unexpected guest makes the supply of 
bed-clothing insufficient for the family use, place 
layers of newspapers between the blankets, or in 
such a way that the rustle will not be annoying. 

When walking a long distance in a cold, search- 
ing wind, button a newspaper under the jacket 
to protect the chest and lungs. It will be found 
very satisfactory for keeping out the cold. 

When riding long distances in cold weather, 
one often becomes chilled, though snugly 
wrapped. At such times draw in the breath 
through the nostrils as full as possible, hold a 
half minute, and then quickly eject. Repeat 
this several times, and almost immediately a 
sensation of warmth will pervade the system, 
the quickened heart-beats having sent the blood 
coursing more rapidly through the veins. 

A wise precaution for one who takes a long 
ride in cold weather is to heat three freestones, 
one for the feet, another for the hands, and a 
third placed at the hollow of the back, and closely 
wrapped so that it can not slip away. 

Hot water bags answer the same purpose, but 
one should be sure they do not leak. 

— Aunt Joe's Selection. 



Fidelity and faithfulness are nothing but con- 
stancies of feeling and action, and the reflection 
of constancy of feeling in constancy of action. 

In choosing companions the young will do well 
always to remember that " contact with the good 
never fails to impart good, and we carry away 
with us some of tlie blessing, as the travelers' 
garments retain the odor of the flowers and 
shrubs through which they have passed." 

We all boast of something; one of his ances- 
. tors, another of his alliances, one of his face, 
another of his mind, another of his heart, one of 
his hopes, one of his disappointments, one of his 
fortune, another of his poverty, one of iiis virt- 
ues, -another of his Yices. . . . That man who 
boasts iaf Jiot bjOastii^o is not the one who b^oasts 
tlje .least. - . . , 



The Abigail 



1^ 



DAILY DISCIPLINE. 



There are times when everything seems to go 
wrong. From seven o'clock a. m. till ten p. m., 
affairs are in a twist. You rise in the morning 
and the room is cold, and a button is off, aiid the 
breakfast is tough, and the stove smokes, and 
the pipes burst, and you start down the street 
nettled from head to foot. All day long things 
are adverse. Insinuations, petty losses, mean- 
ness on the part of customers. The ink-bottle 
upsets and spoils the carpet. Some one gives a 
wrong turn to the damper and the gas escapes. 
An agent comes in determined to insure your 
life when it is already insured for more than it is 
worth, and you are afraid some one will knock 
you on the head to get the price of your policy; 
but he sticks to you, showing you pictures of old 
time and the hour-glass, and death's scythe and 
a skeleton, making it quite certain that you will 
die before your time, unless you take out papers 
in his company. Besides this you have a cold in 
your head, and a gi-ain of dirt in your eye, and 
you are a walking uneasiness. The day is out of 
joint and no surgeon can set it. 

The probability is that if you would look at the 
weather-vane, you would find that the wind is 
northeast and j'ou might remember that you have 
lost much sleep lately. It might happen that 
you are out of joint instead of the day. Be care- 
ful and not write many letters while you are in 
that irritated mood. You will pen some things 
that you will be sorry for afterward. 

Let us remember that these spiked nettles of 
life are part of our discipline. Life would get 
nauseating if it were all honey. That table would 
be poorly that had on it nothing but treacle. 
We need a little vinegar, mustard, pepper and 
horse-radish tliat brings the tears even when we 
do not feel pathetic. If this world were all 
smoothness^, we would never be ready for emi- 
gration to a liigher and better. Blustering 
March and weeping April prepare us for shining 
May. This world is a poor hitching-post. In- 
stead of tying fast on the cold mountains, we 
had better whip up and hasten on toward the 
warm inn, where our good friends are looking 
out of the window, watching to see us come up. 



At twenty when a man is young, he thinks he 
knows it all; he likes to wag his active tongue 
and exercise his gall : he struts around in 
noble rage; the world is all his own; he laughs 
to scorn the world of age, and lists to self alone. 
He wears a window in his eye to see his mus- 
tache grow; he thinks the ladies pine and die 
because they love him so. At forty, as you may 
suppose, he's knuckled down to biz; 'tis not till 
sixty that he knows how big a chump he is. — Ex. 



The following contributions were received since we went to press 
last, which we acknowledge with thanks. 

Franklin & Mirsky $3: The Sutro Bros. Braid Co. %z: M. W. 
Fogg $25; VVm. E. Tefft$25: Scott & Bowne. 2 doz. emulsion; R. 
H. Ingersoll Bros, musical toys: National Biscuit Co. I42lbs. crackers 
Berry, Lohman & Kasch 25lbs. sugar: J. B. Maxfield & Co. lolbs, 
coffee: Winthrop 11. Baker, I2lbs. chocolate; Moxie Nerve Food Co. 
2 cases moxie: Austin, Nichols & Co. loolbs. sugar; Petthane Co. 75 
cts: G. A. Bostwick. $2: A. H. Brummell, $2: Silberberg Bros. & 
Co. $1: Mr. Scheuer, $i\ Muser Bros. $2; Cheeney Bros. .$2: Cos- 
mopolitan Range Co. $r: May & Kahn, %i. Duparquet, Huot & 
Moneuse. $5: Isaac Rosenstein & Co. $2; W. R. Janvier, $2; J. H, 
Eckert, jocts; Strauch Bros, |i; P. Moore |i; S. II. & M. Velve- 
teen, $1: A. Wimpheimer & Co. %\\ F. Garcia & Bros. $1: Johnson, 
Cowdin & Co. %v. L A. Winship, .$1; J.J. Latteman, |i; Carl 
Hirsch, |i: Ferry & Napier, |2: I. I. Lenhart. socts; Jonas & 
Naumburg, $1; Lebewitz & Schon socts; R Kraus & Son, fi; Ben- 
jamin Levy, $[; M. Piassecki socts; J. J. Martin & Co. f i; H. Swan, 
$1; Lesher & Whitman, $2; S Gottlieb, 25cts: Mess & Nelson, 2 s 
cts: P. Campomenose, socts; Max Green, $2; M. Lowensiein & Bros 
socts; E. Wessell, socts: Cohen & Fine, 25cts; S. B. Close, $20; 
Burton Bros. & Co. fs; Lester Cohen, $1: Hecht & Co. $1; R. 
Schwed & Co. %\: Rosenfeld & Jonas, $r: Myers & Co. Si; D. E. 
S. ii; P. H. Humbert, $2; A. M. Stewart, Si; L M.Starkey, $1; 
Am. Type Foundry Co %l: Henry Lindemeier & Sons, $2; A. 
Creecey Morrison, $1; Wm. Bratter $1; R. E. Belknap $1; H. W. 
Wmans, $1; Louis Isenberger $1; C. J. Chrystal, locts; Ashley, 
Bailey & Co. %%; Clarence Whitman, $10: Six Little Tdlur, $2; Ode 
(& Gerbereux, $2; A. Goidberg, socts. 




Established in 1876. 



MAJORS CJEtEllJr 



Price, 15c and 25c per Bottle. 

Specially prepared for liouseliold purposes. Mends anything that 

breaks; Meerachanm, Tipping Billiiird Cups Just the thing 

to fasten tlie end ft a bHiidage . alt^o to atick it 

to the skin to keep it in position. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

A wonderful sticker. Nii Bicyclist .should be without it. For 
repairing Rubber Boots, Shoes, Rubber Garments, Silk Um- 
brellas. 15 CENTS. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

Of surprisintr adliesive power. Boots and Shoes, and articles of 

Leather. 18 CENTS. 

At DruggiMts and House Furnishing Stores, or by mail, free of 

postage. 

BEWAREMI TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE. 

MAJOR CEMENT CO., 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 

KERBV, WaTSO.N & Co., MO.NTREAL. 



8o 



The Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
cliild 13 the father to the man ; and as 
the child i?. go in all probahility will the man he. 
Ilisto V r.nd experience teach us that the first 
impiers'oas made upon iho heart of the innocent 
chili aic as a rule lasting aud indelible : how im- 
portant tlien is it to stamp upon the cliild's heart 
maxims a'.iil principles that maj' carry it safely 
throu^^^h ti e shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our lar2,c cities wo have a vast army of little 
ones wlio, tlirough no fault of their own, but 
merely en account of various untovx-avd circum- 
stances, arc depi'ived of the ' opportunity of 
equipping- themselves, thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boj-s and girls, 
v.-ho are nov/ lost to responsil)ility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of societj', had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
year.j en the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
miany various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

'i'he Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, ISr.'). 

Darin J i is existence over 11,000 children have 
passed l!-.r;iugh its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the lieart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by tlie fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during tlieir public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particLilar school and to extend our influence to 
create moro like it. 

A yearly contribution of SIO.OU will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of S•^3.00 
will nrake you an annual member. Lai'ger dona- 
liims will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : 11 tlien you find it convenient to resj^ond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will 1)..' nppifciated. January, 189S. 

To carry on tliis work properly in all its branches 
we need: From SlJO to $.500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Hooks: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Dcnaticn,''etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



I. 

The object of this institution i ; to cr;'aL' in the 
liearts of the children a genuine love for 3,rorality 
and Religion in the widest sense of th;> word. 
II. 
This institution guarantees the wliolly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 
The School will bo made attractive t(.) the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their liearts and minds will he 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. EV'ery 
facility Avill also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for bovs and girls. 

V. 
The age at which children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind will be made, and no 
remuneration Avill be received from those wlio 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 
The children will be provided with gaiiie.s, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their liearts and minds to habits of industrv and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this School will be 
provided each dav with a substantial lunch. 
X. 
A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 
Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesdav and Thursdav evenings, 7.30 
P. M. " XIII. 

Sunday Scliool, prei^aratory. isheld 10.30 A.M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIA^. 

A Dispensaiy, conducted by Dr. J. E. Missen- 
ger, for the children attending the School: open 
everv Wednesday -1 P M. 
XV. 
Every week daj^, except Saturday, from ;) to 
4 P. M., the School is thrown open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend jiublic 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

Tlie School is open '] .Z'O A. 31 : general dis- 
ini.ssal 4 P. I\L: dismissal for keep-overs G.oO P.JM. 






OT)e CJod 



Oije SeI?ooI 




Orje Qoui^try 



Oi^e (39903(56 



Entered as Second Class matter at the New York, N. T. Post Office, April 8th, 



Vol. I, No. 11. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, January, 1899. 



50c PER Year 



ABIGAIL SCHOOL FESTIVAL. 



The Annual Christmas Festival of the Abigail 
School was held at No. 104 Sullivan Street, on 
Saturday, Dec. 24th. The friends of the school 
had remembered the little people most bountifully, 
and money, toys, nuts and fruit poured in upon 
them. There were hundreds of gifts, and despite 
the good system and the many helping hands it 
took two hours to distribute them. In keeping 
with the principle of the work, all gifts were 
good in quality and perfect in form, and no sen- 
sitive little soul was wounded by a broken toy or 
a useless gift. 

The management had skilfully found out from 
each child what he fondly hoped Santa Claus 
would bring, so that when the names were called 
each eager little boy or girl walked up and re- 
ceived from the hands of Santa himself the wish- 
ed for gift and a bag of fruit, nuts and sweets 
besides. 

No matter how poor the dress, the pinched 
little face above it was aglow with hopes realized, 
and each felt himself or herself the especial ob- 
ject of Santa's love and interest. 

The above appeared in the New York Tribune 
on December 38th, througli the courtesy of Mrs. 
Cynthia Westover Alden, to whom we are in- 
debted for many former kindnesses, which we 
thankfully appreciate. 

LOUISE FUND. 



Since the beginning of the new year, there has 
come to us a donation of $10.00 to our work from 
the " Louise Fund," through its treasurer, o e of 
our former Directors, Mr. Wm. Baldwin. 



Good Sister Louise, who is in the land of the 
bright and fair, will approve of the use made of 
this donation in her name. 

We have had to carry some of our children's 
people over this winter, and are doing so yet, we 
could not very well see our way clear to turn 
them over to other charities, for their distress is 
temporary, and they look to us through their 
dear little ones, for the relief which they would 
otherwise have to accept with some bitterness of 
humiliation. 

The Louise Fund donation came very timely, 
and has brought some temporary blessings 
into one or two deserving homes. A mother 
and three children sick, father out of work since 
the middle of December, is one of the cases, and 
one of our own which we could not very well 
transfer to other agencies. 

What a change already has been wrought in 
this particular home Sister Louise is cognizant of 
according to our convictions of the state of the 
hereafter. 



Some say that the age of chivalry is past. The 
age of chivalry is never past as long as there is a 
wrong left unredressed on earth, and a man left 
to say, " I will redress that wrong or spend my 
life in the attempt." The age of chivalry is 
never past as long as men have faith enough in 
God to say, "God will help me to redress that 
wrong, or, if not me, surely He will help those 
that come after me. For His eternal will is to 
overcome evil with good.''— CV?arZes Kingsley. 



82 The Abigail 

PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT. TREASURER'S ANNUAL REPORT. 



Time has swiftly passed, and another year's 
record has been written. It has been a year of 
abundant labors, accompanied by unusual diffi- 
culties, and a sense of grateful pride is awakened 
by the knowledge of good accomplished, such as 
cannot be expressed in words nor estimated by 
numbers, but sufficiently apparent to entitle the 
" Abigail School" to the continued confidence and 
support of a generous public. 

It becomes my pleasant duty as President to 
give a brief summary of the year's work, leaving 
to the respective oificers to give a detailed re- 
port. 

The object for the existence of the " Abigail 
School" has been faithfully carried out. 

Children that have come to us from the streets, 
have been carefully trained and taught the first 
rudiments of control, self-dependence and trust 
in God. 

To them has been inculcated that which a proper 
domestic training under evenly balanced condi- 
tions of surroundings is supposed to confer. 

To every child thus restored to its normal con- 
dition our School has given to God and the State 
a God fearing and patriotic future citizen. 

The Abigail Free School and Kindergarten has 
not only kept up its record, but has improved 
upon it largely in this, its ninth year of existence. 

On behalf of the Board of Directors and Trus- 
tees, I wish to thank the numerous friends that 
have come to its aid for their generous responses 
and conclude in laying the cause close to their 
hearts and to the hearts of those who kindly will 
peruse our various reports. 

Respectfully yours, 

J. S. HXJYLER. 

President. 



There is need of greater co-operation among 
all good men. When we see anyone endeavoring 
to cast out social demons among us, let us not 
forbid him because he does not accept our creed 
or follow our party. Prejudice, narrow-minded- 
ness and bigotry have too long stood in the way 
of social reform. Wise men must recognize that 
whatever is good is of God. It makes no differ- 
ence from what source it comes. When all good 
men shall work together on the broadest lines of 
social reform, great and beneficent changes will 
be brought about, and New York will continue to 
be a great, happy and prosperous city. 



Women are never stronger than when they arm 
themselves with their weakness. 



Income. 
January, f 395. 97 



February, 

March, 

April, 

May, 

June, 

July, 

August, 



416.50 
491.81 

341-09 
367.00 
395-15 
424.95 
415.70 



September, 325.50 ■ 
October, 444.15 
November, 429.46 - 
December, 590.56 

#5037.84 



Expenditures. 
■ $417-77 
435 18 
486.14 
383-95 
431 52 
472-57 

- 453-18 
415.02 

- 393-63 
422 32 

- 453-43 
584.85 



$5349-61 
5037.84 



We have just ended a very laborious year in 
the history of the Abigail Free School and Kinder- 
garten. 

As its Treasurer, it gives me great pleasure to 
submit to our friends a report of its fiiiancial 
standing. 

As our friends will see by the detailed reports 
of our General Manager and Superintendent, our 
attendance has been much larger this year than 
last. 

Of course our expenses have correspondingly 
increased even with our most economical en- 
deavors to keep within the lines. 

The war with its concomitant business depres- 
sions and extra demands upon the purse-strings 
of the charity-dispensing and patriotic public, 
has, of course, had its influence upon tlae finan- 
cial condition of the "Abigail School." It has 
been affected like all other institutions, 
which, as we, partially depend for their support 
upon voluntary contributions. 

Still the number of our contributors has 

largely increased and the circle of our annual 
and supporting membership has been greatly wi- 
dened. 

This is chiefly due to the zealous and tactful ef- 
forts of Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley, our Business 
Manager, whom we cannot too highly recommend 
to our patrons and friends. 

The deficit of $311.77 existing has been as- 
sumed by Mr. and Mrs. Devare, our respective 
Superintendent and General Manager, the sum 
represents part of their salaries advanced to meet 
other contingencies. 

At the quarterly meeting in October, when the 
deficit amounted to §315 34, both Mrs. and Mr. 
Devare offered to give up part of their salary as 
they had been allowed to do in former years, as 
their contribution to the work. 

But the Board of Directors would not agree to 
their proposals and ordered them to consider 
themselves the creditors of the Abigail Free 



The Abigail 



83 



School and Kindergarten to that amount. Since 
then the debt has been reduced to the present sum 
of $311.77. 

Beginning this year under the auspices of peace 
and prosperity, I ask our patrons, friends and 
readers to meet us with renewed generous inten- 
tentions, not only help us to efface this indebted- 
ness, but increase our income over and above, so 
as to allow us to make use of increasing oppor- 
tunities. 

I also wish to thank most cordially all our pat- 
rons and friends for their generous contributions 
and gifts. 

The different gifts during the year have been 
acknowledged in the respective issues of our 
"successful" monthly, "The Abigail." I will 
therefore omit this year in my report a general list 
of subscribers and confine myself to publish the 
names of those who contributed since the De- 
cember issue of our paper ; these will be found 
in the customary column. 

Our aim is still unaltered and that is to pro- 
vide a permanent abode for our work, asking you, 
our friends to help us to realize this. 

I am yours very respectfully, 

J. V. Dennett, 

Treasurer. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTEND- 
ENT AND OF THE GENERAL MANAGER. 



Our attendance taken from our roll-books has 
been as follows : 



The school has been open for 234 days. 

It was closed from August 12th until October 
14th, and from December 19th until the end of 
the year. 

We have sent, as usual, a large number of 
children, about 220, for a summer's outing of ten 
days, to Mount Lawn the Christian Herald's 
Children's Home. Our friend, Mr. Louis Klopsch 
has been unremitting in his endeavors to grant 
us all the facilities possible. 

We sent a large number of parents and child- 
ren to day -trips on the St. John's Guild excursions 

We also sent 19 mothers with 47 children for a 
two-weeks' sojourn at the Seaside Hospital main- 
tained by the St. John's Guild. 

We also availed ourselves of the opportunity 
to send 13 mothers with 28 children for a day's 
outing to the Edgewater Creche. 

We feel gratefully indebted to all these agen- 
cies for the comfort, solace and enjoyment 
partaken of by so many of our poor children and 
their parents. 

Our Kindergarten Department has been well 
attended, and the principles of the " Abigail 
School " have been entrusted to the development 
in many of our dependent children's hearts. 



January 


. 


106 


FetTuary 


- 


114 


March - 


- 


111 


April 


- 


130 


May 


- 


132 


June 


- 


149 


July - 


- 


356 


August 


- 


144 


September 


- 


128 


October 


- 


144 


November 


- 


123 


December - 




108 


An average of 145 per 


month giving a 


total 


33.930. 







aggregate of 



Afternoon Sessions have been held on 203 days 
with an average attendance of 66, giving a total 
aggregate of 13,398. 

Midday lunches have been served to 111 child- 
ren on an average per day, giving a total aggre- 
gate of 25,974 meals served. 

Light lunches have been served to an average 
of 13 children per day making an aggregate of 
3,042. 

Praise Meetings, 93 have been held as follows : 

January, 8 session?, 54 average attendance, 432 total 



Feb'y, I 
March, 9 
April, g 
May, q 
June, c 
July, 8 
August. 4 
Sep'ber. 6 
Octob'r, 8 
Nov'br, g 
Dec'br, 6 



73 
96 
121 
126 
132 
123 



102 
127 



584 
864 



1134 
1 1 88 



320 
630 



gi8 
762 



93 sessions, 105 average attendance, g705 total 

In connection with these meetings we feel that 
we must mention the faithful co-operation of Mr. 
R. Marsh who has very regularly attended and 
taken charge of our Tuesday night's Praise meet- 
ings. He enters into the spirit of our work with 
a zeal and zest for which we are very thankful. 

Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley has also given us great 
aid in establishing a physical-culture class, which 
she has regularly attended every fine Monday 
morning since it was started. The way in which 
she teaches the iittle ones the use of their limbs 
has been greatly appreciated by them It has 
been a great help to the school. 

We also wish to mention the faithful attend- 
ance of Miss E. Burd, who has charge of our 
weekly drawing class ; rain or shine she has 
been at her post. 

Many, many little ones will be obliged for their 
development in eye culture to her unremitting 
patient efforts. 

Report Continued on Page Sj. 



84 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 

C, Pr. DEVARE, Editor. Mrs. J. V. DENNETT, Assistant Editor. 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, 50c Per Ysar. 5 cents Per Copy 



All Commanloations, Subscriptions, etc., should be sent to the Edi 
tor, 104 Sullivan Street, Borough of Manhattan, N. T. City. 



'Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." Luke XVill., 16. 

New York, Jantjaet, 1899. 



He is one of our incorporators and it is with re- 
gret that we have him sever his official connect 
ion with us. But as he says in his letters, it is 
utterly impossible for him to attend the meetings 
with his other duties that are continuing to in- 
crease around him. Thus no choice was left but 
to accept his resignation. 

We have in his place secured another dear and 
valued friend, Mr. George W, Van Siclen, who 
has kindly consented to act as a Director and 
Trustee of our School from the beginning of the 
year. 

We refrain from saying any more about him, 
but merely state the fact that the rest of the Board 
of Directors and Officers considered it an honor to' 
have the privilege to elect him as one of their 
number. 



EDITORIAL. 



OUR VICE-PRESIDENT. 



The "Abigail" sends its greetings to all its 
readers and patrons. 

May the year 1899 prove a prosperous one, spir- 
itually and secularily considered to every one of 
them is our heartfelt wish. 

We also take this occasion to thank all our 
friends for the interest they have taken in our 
enterprise. 

We thank the secular and religious press for the 
many kind notices they have given us in their 
various publications. 

We thank them for the flattering criticisms 
they have bestowed upon us. 

We promise to keep within the limits that will 
meet with the approbation of our friends and 
patrons. 

From a humble beginning last February we 
have risen to a list of 900 contributors to our work 
and that means 900 subscribers to "The 
Abigail." 

We shall continue to advance the plan and sys- 
tem of the reformatory work carried on in the 
Abigad Free School and Kindergarten. 

Our aim will be as in the past,to enlist the sym- 
pathies of our readers and keep them fastened 
when they get attached. 

With a heart full of gratitude for what has 
been done in the past year and a steadfast eye 
of faith riveted on Him from whom all blessings 
flow, we will strive to do the work assigned to us 
without faltering. 



A NEW DIRECTOR. 



Mr. W. Baldwin has tendered his resignation 
as Director of the Abigail Free School and Kind- 
ergarten. 



When the Abigail Free School and kindergar- 
ten was incorporated and its constitution and by- 
laws were enacted, the office of Vice Preeident 
had not been provided for. 

It has been deemed timely by our Board of Di- 
rectors to amend our by-laws to the extent so as 
to create that office in the board. 

Looking for a suitable person to become the in- 
cumbent of the office, the attention of every mem- 
ber was concentrated upon the availability of 
Mrs. J. S. Huyler, the wife of our worthy Presi- 
dent and founder of the work. 

After procuring her kind consent to accept the 
office, Mrs. Rose F. Huyler at our annual meet- 
ing was unanimously elected Vice President of 
the Abigail Free School. 

Mrs. Huyler, in accepting the office has assum- 
ed her normal position in our School, her heart 
and inclination having always been with us. 

The Abigail Free School will, under God's di- 
rections and blessings increase its scope of use- 
fulness so that our Vice-President will ever be 
proud of this step of having practically iden- 
tified herself with it. 



Home! the soldier dreams of it as he sinks to 
rest on the red field of slaughter, when the fierce 
fight is done! It nerves the gallant seaman in 
his strife with the mad waters, when the tem- 
pest's fury dashes the seething foam around his 
barque, and the strained timbers crack and heave, 
as if life were in them; in that fearful hour the 
thought of home rises like a beacon over the 
wollen billows of the angry deep; its voices ares 
borne to him upon the night wind's breath, and 
sound like angels' hymns. — G. A. Sala. 



The Abigail 



85 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTEND- 
ENT AND OF THE GENERATE MANAGER. 

Continued from Page 8j. 
Sunday School 45 sessions have been held at 
the hours from 10:30 to 12 M. 

We have found it expedient to keep the hour 
fixed for the forenoon the whole year around in- 
stead of changing it to the afternoon in winter. 
The children are more readily accessible in the 
mornings. 
The attendance has been as follows : 



January, 4 sessions, 


35 average attendance. 


140 total 


February, 4 


fir 


245 '■ 


March, 4 


55 


221 " 


April, 4 


61 


244 " 


May, 5 


82 


408 " 


June, 4 " 


93 


372 " 


July, 5 


74 


370 '■ 


August, I " 


65 


65 " 


Septemb'r 2 " 


45 


90 " 


October, 5 


72 


360 " 


November 4 " 


74 


296 " 


Decembers 


108 


324 " 



45 sessions, 69 average attendance, 3135 total 

Sewing School, 62 sessions, have been held with 
an average attendance of 27, giving an aggregate 
total of 1674. 

During the year 34 full aprons, 23 petticoats, 43 
full dresses and 18 skirts have been finished by the 
children and taken to their homes as the 
proud trophies of their work ; these children just 
revel in their love and appreciation of the "Abi- 
gail School." 

Many garments are cut out, begun, but were 
not finished when the sewing-school was closed ; 
they will be finished when we open again. 

The material donated by various friends, and 
purchased when necessary has been of a durable 
and appropriate kind ; no worthless fabric has 
been used in our work. 

Our Dispensary has been carried on during the 
year in a most satisfactory way. Our good Doc- 
tor Messenger insists on the most rigid discipline 
in our dispensary work. It is owing to his unre- 
mitting care and zeal that we have had no con- 
tagion or anything approaching it in our school 
during the year. 

Medicine and medical treatment are provided to 
our children, bnt not to their parents. The doc- 
tor prefers that the parents should go to the dis- 
pensaries that abound all over the city. Any 
children who require long, continuous care have 
been sent to larger dispensaries. 

Our medicaments are furnished mostly from our 
dispensary, which Dr. Messenger has stocked up 
with ordinary drugs, etc., needed. 

Extraordinary remedies we had made up by 
our druggist who supplies us at the lowest rates. 

353 children have been under temporary treat- 
ment for more or less lighter ailments common 
to our class of children. They have in most 



cases been supplied with remedies found in 
our dispensary. 

We consider it a great tril)ute to our work that 
Dr. Messenger, who leads a very busy life makes 
time to attend to these poor children, and we 
feel, that the least we can do, is to here publicly 
thank him. 

RESUME OF ATTENDANCE. 

Kindergarten Department, total aggregate 33i93o 

Afternoon Sessions " " '3.398 

Praise Meetings " '' 9.705 

Sunday Sciiool " " 3.135 

Sewing School " " 1,674 

61,842 
Divided by 234, the number of days the school has been kept open, 
gives 264 average daily attendance. 

On Christmas eve we held our usual Christmas 
festival, the daily papers have given an account 
of the splendid spectacle and display presented. 

We were furnished with 130 dollars in cash and 
many donations of fruit, cakes, nuts, etc. This 
money was specially donated for the Children's 
Christmas. We have spared nothing. We spent 
the sum of $119.71 in procuring presents for the 
little ones. 

253 children were each presented with the gift 
that they had especially pleaded for, and in most 
cases something extra was added. Every child 
was made happy, none were suffered to experi- 
ence disappointment. 

Through a well-regulated system the element 
that generally crowds around at such occasions 
was thoroughly excluded. 

Christmas cheer and Santa Claus, who was 
with us in person, have become a living reality 
to our children. 

With them it constituted a case of merit to be 
taken by the hand by Santa Claus and presented 
by him with their gifts. 

It was not a mere doling out presents to any 
comer, but a privilege and aright. 

It was a most happy occasion and the sight of 
it repaid us all for the labors in preparing. 

This ends our report for the year. 

We feel thankful to the Lord for the good he 
has allowed us to accomplish. 

We feel extremely grateful for the manner in 
which a circle of generous friends and the gen- 
erous public at large have upheld us. 

The living fact that nearly 800 individual do- 
nations of various amounts have been intelligent- 
ly made during this past j-ear to help us in our 
work, fills us with gratitude and awakens new 
incentives for continued and renewed efforts. 

We feel that our work is becoming known and 
appreciated. Every giver has been reasoned with 
upon the merits of our work by our faithful co- 
laborer Mrs. Stanley, nobody is permitted to give 
without the consent of his or her heart and 
reason. 



86 



The Abigail 



For the nine years that we have been per- 
mitted by the Lord to carry on this work we have 
brought every injunction that He has placed up- 
on us into play and regardless of the world's in- 
difference or criticism have pursued an on- 
ward course. 

Well, everything comes to those who know 
how to wait not indolently but persistently by 
pushing continually onward. 

Once more, we have been wonderfully blessed 
in our work. The " Abigail School " and its 
principles are to-day widely known and endorsed. 

We look for yet greater results and are ready, 
as we have done in the past, to throw heart, soul 
and body into our work. 

We ask our friends to continue to stand by us, 
to help us to increase our circle of contributors 
and thus encourage us to greater action. 

Respectfully submitted, 
Mrs. E. Pr. Devarb. 

General Manager. 
C. Pr. Devare, 

Superintendent, 

The following contributions were received since we went last to 
press, which we acknowledge with thanks. 

Wm. E. Tefft, $25: E. Fougera & Co, $5; Schwarz Bros. & Co 
$1; Mr. & Mrs. J. Brinton White, $10; Chas. Mallory, $5: Chas, F. 
Nickle, $5; Austin, Nichols & Co. loolbs. sugar: P. L. Koempel, 
lot of toys; Acker, Merrall & Condit, 2 doz. cond. milk, i box apricots: 
Selchow & Richter, lot of toys; J. Horseman & Co. ibdl. toys; W. 
Shamberg, lot of dolls dresses: Pettit & Reid, tub of butter; Miller, 
Tompkins & Co. 300 bags: Herman Kornahrens, 3 doz. toy brooms: 
Austin, Kimball & Co. ibbl. apples: C. F. Gennerich & Co. 25lbs. 
nuts; McCormick, Hubbs&Co. i box oranges: J. W. Schneider & Co. 
yihox oranges: James S. Barron & Co. 2 waste baskets: Fred. Von 
Dohren, yi case eggs; Chas. Weber & Son, i basket apples: Koenig 
& Schuster, islbs. nuts: Pierce & Co. 50 oranges: J. W. Lumsden, i 
box oranges: N. Y. Pop Corn and Candy Works, box pop corn; Geo. 
W. Judd, 12 oranges; E. P. Loomis & Co. i box apples; John Nix 
& Co. I bbl. apples: James B. Laing, 81b. Turkey; Am Fruit Pack- 
ing Co. I box prunes: A. G. Reid, lolb. butter: Rice Sons & Co. i 
tub raspberry jelly: Kaufman Bros, i doz. tomatoes: Bernard Abel & 
Co. I sack potatoes; W. Grandeman, lolbs. nuts; Hoehn & Mayer, 
81b. chicken; Geo L. Ayers, 2olbs. nuts; Louis DeGroff & Son, i 
box crackers; Edwin J. Gillies, lolbs coffee: John Corell & Co. 61b. 
chicken; E. Ridley & Sons, loyds. carpet; The British India TeaCo_ 
4lbs. coffee; Cuneo Bros. 81bs. nuts: Knapp ..V Van Nostrand, 171b. 
turkey: O. W. Van Campen, lolbs. raisins: Wm. A. Higgins & Co. 

1 doz. raisins and i doz. currants; T. J. Keveney & Co. allowance 
$3.68: The Crandall Godley Co. slbs. nuts; Burton & Davis slbs. 
nuts: Maxfield Fruit and Commission Co. i box oranges: H. Hafke 

2 Christmas trees; Fowler Mfg. Co. allowance on towel service $3.00; 
Clark, Chopin & Bushnell, $2; F. Pennoyer, $1; D. Carlisle, $1; Wm. 
Gay, |i: Hills Bros. Co. $2: J. C. Sheaff, $1: W. H. Kemp Co $r. 
Ault & Wiborg. $1; G. F. Bingham. $1; W. L. Brown, $5; C. H. 
Ridgeway, $1; Miss Julia Lathers, ir.50; Mrs. J. Minor Lincoln, $5 
Mrs A. B. Voorhis. bundle clothing; Huyler's, loolbs. candy; Mr. 
Mendelsohn, socts; A. S. Rosenthal & Fried, $2; Edwin Flower, 
$2; Robt. Reid Co. $1; Arnold R. Heiner & Co. $2; Mrs. James 
Minor Lincoln, bundle of toys; Mr. Clark, $2; Chas. Wood, $1; 
Tager & Epstein $1; Silverman & Schorn, $1; Thomas Dietz, Si; 
Wm. F. Crecrand, Ji; Ryan & Green, |i: Rubel, Weil & Co. $2; 
A. Wooyeeno & Co., $i; W. Y. Bogle, $1; Wygan & Cormier, $i\ 
W. E. Thorne, $5; The James Reilly Repair and Supply Co. $10. 
J. Lazarus, $[.00 ; H, Beck, $1.00 ; M. Hemminway Son's Silk 
Co., $5.00 ; Hardt & Linges, $1.00. 



ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE YEAR. 

When others fell, I stood 

The hand of death struck low my sister and my brother. 

But I am here, am yet alive, 

Do still enjoy to be. — 

Who am I ? Why thus spared ? 

My God! My Lord, the Ruler of my fate! 

Thou hast so wonderful preserved me! 

Who am I then, that Thou so thinkest mine? 

Nothing am I! — And all in all art Thou. 

Worthless I dwell upon the earth; 

O hide and cover what I lived 

And guide what I'll be living. 

This ne>v year will to Thee I dedicate. 

Will only act by having Thee in sight. 

Will only seeds of good disseminate. 

Wi 1 pursue only what is noble, what is right. 

Be what you will be coming year; 

God waiches over me and those, to me entrusted; 

Perhaps my path will be beset by dangers 

Sorrow and grief perhaps will darken many an hour. 

Perhaps the star of fortune shine with radiant light. 

Success perhaps will smile its sweetest smile. 

No matter what! — Far from me, — cares and frets! 

That which is good for me, my God will surely give me. 



SAVE THE CHILDREN. 

Save the children, save the children! 
'Tis our great Commander's word. 
Through the ranks of life's stern battle. 
Far above its roar and rattle. 
Is the stirring watchword heard. 

Save the children, save the children! 
Shivering frames with naked feet. 
Young hearts daily evil learning. 
Meet our gaze at every turning. 
In the alley, court and street. 

Save the children, save the children! 
Tiny heirs of want and shame; 
Outstretched hands that fain would reach us, 
Wistful faces pale beseech us; 
Save them in the Nation's Name. 

Save the children, save the children! 
Fold them In the arms of love. 
Haste to rescue, ere they perish. 
Tender form and spirit cherish; 
'Tis the will of God above. 

Save the children, save the children! 
Hasten to them without fail; 
Help the work of reformation 
To secure for God and Nation 
The children of " The Abigail." 



OUR WORKING STAFF. 



Mr. C. Pr. Devare, Principal. 

Mrs. E. Pr. Devare, General. 

Miss E. A. Burd, Special, Drawing. 

Miss I. G. Stanley, Special, Physical Culture. 

Mr. John Luhrs, Assistant, General. 

Miss Lizzie Lammy, Attendance. 



The Abigail 



7V\,einbcrsbiJ> ^ 



Abigail ^ree gebool and [kindergarten 
104 Sullivan Street, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York City. 

FOR 1899. 

I^oard of Qireetors. 

S. S. SwAiM, 25 Park Row. 
Geo. W. Van Biclen, 141 Broadway. 
H. B. Smith, 1475 Broadway. 
Stephen Merritt, 241 W. 23d St. 

J. E. Messenger, M.D., 323 W. 19th St. 



0ffieers. 

J. S. HuYLER, President. 

64 Irving Place. 

Mrs. E. F. Hutler, Vice-President, 
8 W. 72d St. 

Mrs. J. V. Dennett, Treasurer, 
300 W. 139tli St. 

Mrs. E. Pr. Devare, General Manager, 
104 Sullivan St. 

C. Pr. Devare, Sec'y and Supt, 
104 Sullivan St. 



Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley, Business Manager, 

Office at School. 



p^^nnual 

E. J. Brady, 

Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Childs 

Chas. J. Coulter, 

B. F. DeKlyn, 

Wm. F. Havemeyer, 

J. A. Dahn, 

Mrs. H. B. Smith, 

Jacob Schipp, 

W. E. Teppt, 

Mrs. J. D. Wasson, 

L. Klopsch, Ph. D. 



TVlembers. 

S. W. BOVFNE, 

, S. B. Close, 
A. W. Dennett, 
M. W. Fogg, 
Geo. E. Twele, 
J. A. Dahn, Jr. 
Mrs. L. S. Smith, 
Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Taylor 
Singer Mfg. Co., 
Ed. Stallknecht, 

Baltimore. 



Supporting TWembers. 

Arnold & Constable, E. W. Bennett, 
Wm. Baldwin, C. Bruno, 

Henry Clementson, H. B. Claplin Co., 



R. F. Codington, 
Madam Geo. Ehret, 
Mrs. J. Minor Lincoln, 
Edwin J. Gillies, 
Arthur H. Hearn, 
Henry Heide, 
Isaiah Josephy. 
p. l. koempel, 
Otto E. Lohrke, 



R. G. Dun & Co., 

Rev. S. L. Osborne,D.D., 

Newark. 
A. G. Hyde & Son, 
Charles Henry, 
Huyler's, 
S. Laplin Kbllog, 
T. A. Lewis, 
J. McCreeby & Cc, 



James M. Speers, of J. McCutcheon & Co., 
J. McCoRMiCK, N. Nielsen, 

Moses Newborg, Selchow & Richter, 

H. H. Palmer, S. L. Bartlett, Boston, 

The James Reilly Repair & Supply Co., 



RocKwooD & Co., 
C. H. Ridge way. 
Miss G. W. Tobias, 
Chas. L. Tipfany, 
John U. Fraley, 
H. K. Wampole & Co., 



Rand, McNally & Co., 
R. Marsh, 
Wm. E. Thorne, 
R. W. Townsend, 
Clarence Whitman, 
The Bovenine Co. 



The National Biscuit Co. 

Am. Fruit Packing Co., Coat's Thread Co., 

The Andrews School Mpg. Co. 




Establiabed in 1876 



MAJOR'S CEMENT 



PRICE, 15c AND 25c PER BOTTLE. 

Specially prepared for liousebolil purposes. Mends anything that 

breaks; Meerschaum, Tipping Billiard Cues. Just the thing 

to fasten the end o( a bandage; also, to stick it 

to the skin to keep it in position. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

A wonderful sticker. No Bicyclist should be without it. For 
repairing Rubber Boots, Shoes, Rubber Garments, Silk Um- 
brellas. 15 CENTS. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT : 

Of surprising adhesive power. Boots and Shoes, and articles of 

Leather. 18 CENTS. 

At Druggists and House Furnishing Stores, or by mail, free of 



postage 



BEWARE! 



TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE. 



MAJOR CEMENT CO., 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 

Kerby, Watso.n & Co., Montreal. 



88 



The Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
child is the father to the man ; and as 
the child is, so in all probability will the man be. 
History and experience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon the child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carry it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1895. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared ^ for a useful . 
attendance at their resijective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of $10.00 will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of $25.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient to respond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1898. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to $500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



I. 

The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 
II. 
This institution guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 
Th.e SchqoL will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The schoDl is intended for boys and girls. 

V. 
The age at which children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind will be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those who 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 
The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industry and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this School will be 
provided each day with a substantial lunch. 
X. 
A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 
Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P. M. XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatoz-y, is held 10.30 A.M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 PM. 
XV. 
Every week day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
4 P. M., the School is thrown open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend public 
' schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs 6.30 P.M. 



^y\B AB 



Ope (Jod 



Ope SgI^ooI 




Ope lap^uage 



Second Class matterjatlthe New York, N. T. Post Office, April 8th, 



Vol. I, No. 12. 



104 Sullivan St., ISTew York City, February, 1899. 



50c PER Year 



A PLEA FOE A PERMANENT ABODE. 



The Abigail School is approaching its tenth 
year. It has prospered because its work is found- 
ed upon incontrovertible principles. Starting 
with the conviction that vice and poverty are due 
largely to the lack of good home influences, it has 
turned all its energies towards supplying that 
lack to the children of the foreign poor in its lo- 
cality. 

Those who are really in touch with the daily 
life of these people know that among the numer- 
ous and complex conditions that cause or perpet- 
uate their misery two stand out with red-letter 
distinctness. These two all -pervading causes are 
ignorance and ineflBciency. Ignorance of self 
and of resources, ineflBciency to economize those 
resources or to increase them by skill in special 
directions. 

The ignorance and inefficiency of the mother 
unfits her for proper home making, even though 
she had the time and appliances necessary. The 
ignorance and inefficiency of the father makes it 
impossible for him to furnish her these essentials. 
Yet it is in the home that the plastic mind and 
heart of the child receives all its first influences 
towards development all its strongest impulses 
towards useful manhood or womanhood. 

In time these children come into citizenship. 
The quality of that citizenship will affect the 
whole social structure. If useful. Society profits 
by it ; if burdensome. Society must support it, 
therefore Society but protects itself when it as- 
sists its weaker members to the knowledge and 
fitting necessary to become self supporting and 



self-respecting, since the self-supporting man or 
woman is a contributing member of Society, 
while they who respect themselves will, in turn,' 
respect all their i-elations in life. 

For humane reasons, it is best to direct these 
helps to the children, for they are the ones who 
suffer most— and innocently— from vicious or 
wretched environments, and for economic reas- 
ons because youth is the impressible and plastic 
time of life. 

The founders of the Abigail School projected 
the work with faith in these principles. Among 
the nearly 12,000 children who have passed 
through their various departments, they have be- 
gun to reap ample results. 

To those who have been interested in this work, 
either as regular or incidental contributors, the 
following proposition is respectfully submitted. 
Economy is as necessary to the proper conduct 
of an institution as to that of any private busi ■ 
ness. It is not economy to pay rent when the lo- 
cation of the work is once fixed. It is not econ- 
omy to solicit support from door to door when 
that energy is needed in other directions. There 
should be a definite line of work and a fixed in- 
come commensurate with the expenses of th-at 
work. For this there is no security but in endow- 
ment. The uncertainty of public support is plain- 
ly shown by the recent decay of an old and 
worthy charity in this city because of the death 
and removal of its original supporters. 

If you believe that the School is working along 
right lines, take it into your heart and con- 
science, and ask yourself if you cannot help it to 
the strong support of a certain income by endow- 
ing it with— a few thousand dollars. If you can- 



go 



The Abigail 



not give much give little, some one else will do 
the same. No better monument could be raised 
to any man's name than that he helped the un- 
fortunate to understand and control their mis- 
fortunes. Seed sown in this direction is unlim- 
ited in its reach. It is as all-pervading and in- 
destructible as Truth itself. 

Isabella G. Stanley. 

HOW OTHERS SEE US ! 



A few days ago past the middle of January, a 
lady paid the Abigail School a visit. This is what 
she wrote in her home paper, '• The American 
Citizen of Boston," about the impresssions made 
during her visit. 

" I wish the readers of " The Citizen" could have 
witnessed the sight vouchsafed to the writer a 
few days since at the Abigail Free School and 
Kindergarten, 104 Sullivan Street, in this city. 
Mr. and Mrs. Devare are building even better than 
they themselves realize. If the children of the 
slums are taught patriotism and religion, and 
their young hearts are won by kindness, if they 
are taught self-respect and cleanliness, their par- 
ents will not be long in following in the better 
way, which has made their little ones more gen- 
tle, obedient and loving. 

The Abigail School is one of the most valuable 
auxiliaries to the public schools and the churches 
that has ever been established in this great cos- 
mopolitan city. The little waifs which are gath- 
ered into this kindergarten are too young for the 
public schools, and they are here trained to wor- 
ship the one true God, to study His Word, to love 
their country, the flag, and the public schools. 

Parents of the children gathered into this mis- 
sion are of every nationality and creed. Jews, 
Roman Catholics and Protestants are alike wel- 
comed by Mr. and Mrs. Devare and their associ- 
ates in the good work. The day your correspond- 
ent visited the kindergarten there were quite a 
large number of the parents present to enjoy the 
closing exercises, and bring the elder girls .to the 
sewing class, taught and managed by Mrs. Devare 
two afternoons in each week. Then the boys 
and girls who attend the jjublic schools, and who 
were pupils in this kindergarten before they were 
old enough to enter the public schools, dropped 
in to be entertaiaed with the songs and various 
closing exercises. 

At 4 o'clock the teacher strikes the bell upon 
the desk, at which sound all the little ones flut- 
ter into their seats, like so many sparrows. 
Another stroke of the) bell they arise, and holding 
up their tiny right hands repeat with their in- 
structor the Abigail Mission motto : "One God, 
one country, one school, one language, one flag." 
Then a duplicate of Old Glory is put into the 
hand of each little tot, and like an army of sol- 
diers they arise and sing " America," their voices 



ringing clear and sweet above the organ, and 
beating time with the motion of a hundred ban- 
ners, waving them high above their diminutive 
heads. It was one of the prettiest sights I have 
ever seen. These children of the slums would 
put to blush for patriotism the pampered progeny 
of upper-tendom. 

After these exercises are over, the graphophone 
puts in its fine work. This is for the entertain- 
ment and amusement of the children and their 
parents who have dropped in, after their day's 
work at washing or scrubbing is done. This in- 
strument repeats the songs sung by the little 
ones. "America," "Star Spangled Banner," 
and like patriotic pieces, are tooted from the 
mammoth horn of this almost human machine. 

These children are received as early as 7 o'clock 
in the morning, when their mothers, who have 
employment, go to their work. They are given 
a substantial lunch in the mission dining-room, 
and an hour's recreation at noon. 

In a future letter I hope to speak further of 
this grand heaven-inspired work among the poor 
and ignorant." 

We thank the ''American Citizen" and its cor- 
respondent for space allotted, and would ask its 
readers when visiting New York not to fail to 
pay us a visit. 

SHREWD AS A YANK. 



During the revolutionary period in Paris, in 
1S48, a Jcommittee of seven communists called 
at the Rothschild establishment and demanded 
to see the famous banker. Rothschild appeared, 
as suave as you please. " Pray be seated, gentle- 
men," said he, " and now what can I do for you?" 

"Rothschild," said the chairman of the com- 
mittee, " our time has come at last. The people 
are triumphant. The time has come when each 
must share equally with his fellow-citizens. We 
have been delegated to call upon you and inform 
you that you must share your enormous wealth 
with your countrymen." 

" If it is so decreed," said Rothschild urbanely, 
" I shall cheerfully comply. At how much is my 
fortune estimated?" 

"At 200,000,000 francs," replied the leader 
boldly. 

" And at what is the population of France esti- 
mated ? " asked Rothschild. 

" We figure it 50,000,000," was the answer. 

" Well then," said Rothschild, " it would appear 
that I owe each of my countrymen about four 
francs. Now here, gentlemen," he continued, 
putting his hand in his pocket and producing a 
lot of silver, " here are twenty-eight francs for 
you. I have paid each one of you, have I not ? 
Please give me your receipt therefore ; and so 
good-day to you." 

The committee retired, and the wary financier 
was not molested again.— "Aunt Joe." 



The Abigail 



9T 



THE PRAIfllE FIRE. 



NIXON WATERMAN. 

Wake, good Muse ! My pen inspire. 

Let me sketch the prairie fire ; 
Let me draw it, as I saw it, in the olden, golden days, 

In the Indian summer weather, 

When, with wind and sun together. 
Grew the grasses ripe and ready for the coming of the blaze. 

Like a vast Sahara — sombered. 

Frost-browned— stretched the miles unnumbered, — 
Wasting waves that dipped and dappled to the wide world's distant 
rim ; 

And my father's cabin nesting, 

In the vasty reach seemed resting 
Like a shrine of shade and shelter for the joy of his and him. 

Shone the sun a drowsy dullard. 

Bronzed his brows or copper-colored, 
All his brightness shrouded, clouded, all his glances toned and tame; 

While in silken shreds came sifting 

Ashen ghosts of grasses drifting 
On the breath of breezes stealing from the far-off feasts of flame. 

On the sky-line, wide, upwelling, 
Graver grew the smoke-wreaths, swelling, 

Till the heavens, dimmed and darkened, met and mingled with the 
night, 
When, upon the gale, swift-sweeping, 
Fierce-flung fronts of flame came leaping; 

Tossing skyward all their torches till the clouds burned brassy bright. 

'Twixt its fire-guards, many-furrowed. 

Safe our little cabin burrowed ; 
Meek and mute defiance bidding to the foes that would destroy : 

O that roar like distant thunder ! 

O that night of weirdest wonder ! 
O that picture plainly pencilled in the brain-book of a boy ! 

Came the morning sun, upspringing, 

All his golden gleams far-flinging ; 
But the fenceless fields of prairie held the ebon hue of night 

Till, in dreams of shine and shower. 

Velvet plain and spring's fair flower, 
Lay they wrapped in softest slumber under winters robe of white. 



BACKBONE, 

At the late meetings in Chautauqua the Rev. 
Dr. P. S. Henson, of Chicago, gave a lecture on 
"Backbone," which bristled with witty and 
striking points. He said : 

To stand alone ! It is one thing to touch el- 
bows ; it is one thing to feel the inspiration of 
fellowship as you stand awaiting the charge. 
.But to stand alone as Noah stood in the midst 
of a mocking multitude ; to stand as Abraham 
stood beside the altar on which his beloved son 
was stretched, and lifting the gleaming knife 
while his heart was in his throat, and yet obey 
God ; to stand as Moses stood in the presence of 
the king, with the proud consciousness that he 
was God's ambassador ; to stand as Elijah stood 
in the presence of the wicked Ahab ; to stand as 
those young Hebrews stood in that vast multi- 



tude who debased their manhood before the 
image that the king set up — three that stood 
erect in their God- given manhood ; to stand as 
Nehemiah stood when he proudly said, " Shall 
such a man as I flee ? " ; to kneel as Daniel did, 
though the lions were snarling yonder in their 
den ; to stand as John the Baptist stood in the 
presence of guilty Herod ; to stand as Paul stood 
reasoning of righteousness, temperance and 
judgment till he made Felix tremble on his 
throne ; to stand as Savonarola stood in the 
presence of the guilty duke ; to stand as Martin 
Luther stood in the Diet of Worms ; to stand as 
Columbus stood in the midst of a mutinous 
crew, with his eyes searching for the world that 
lay beyond; to stand as the Pilgrim Fathers 
stood — thank God for the Pilgrim Fathers ! 
I thank God that they struck a rock when they 
landed — if they had struck an Illinois prairie 
instead, the whole history of America would 
have been different ; they struck a rock and they 
founded a government that is rock-bottomed. 
I think it likely that they were not the pleasant- 
est people in the world to live with. I have a 
little sympathy for Mrs. Livermore, who was 
brought up in a family of that kind. She was 
taught that Sunday was a funeral day ; that she 
must not look at the pictures on a Sunday. She 
must not sing or whistle anything but some- 
thing solemn on Sunday ; she must not thrum 
the piano ; and she was hardly allowed to look 
out of the window on the lawn, for fear she 
might see the lambs at play ; at the close of a 
dismal day she threw herself upon her bed and 
said, " I almost wish I was dead; I almost hate 
Sunday." Said her sister, "You wicked thing; 
what will you do when you get to heaven, where 
they don't have anything else ? " " Ah, vi'ell, I 
won't bother about that now ; maybe I won't 
have to go there, after all." I am glad the Pil- 
grim Fathers lived ; I am also glad they are dead. 
They la,id the foundations broad and deep, and 
gave a type of character to our American civiliz- 
ation that it will never lose. 



How many could be made happy with the hap- 
piness lost to the world. 

Resignation. — An attitude of grace occupied 
by the mind after it has fully demonstrated the 
futility of rebellion. 

Beware of him who meets you with a friendly 
mien, and in the midst of a cordial salutation, 
seeks to avoid your glance. 

The knowledge which we have acquired ought 
not to resemble a great shop without order, and 
without an inventory ; we ought to know what 
we possess, and be able 1io make- it serve us in 
need.—Lebinitz. 



92 



The Abigail 



.•The Abigail.. 

C. Pr. DEVARE, Editor. Mrs. J. V. DENNETT, Assistant Editor. 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, soc Per Ysar. 5 cents Per Copy. 



All Communications, Subscriptions, etc., sliould be sent to the Edi- 
tor, 104 Sullivan Street, Borough of Manhattan, N. T. City. 



"Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." -Luke XVlll., i6. 



New York, Febrtjaet, 1899. 



EDITORIAL. 



GROUND WORK OF EDUCATION. 



It is a well established fact that in a properly- 
regulated family we find the prototype of good 
government. 

All the conditions and parts which are essen- 
tial to good government, are to be found in the 
well regulated family life. 

We need not spend space and time upon dem- 
onstrations by building up an argument based on 
philosophic truths and deduced to practical ac- 
quisition by a verbose and tedious process of 
logic. 

Let us content ourselves that the sacredness, 
the inviolability of the family is the safeguard of 
the life of the nation. 

Let us fix this idea solidly into our life and we 
will greatly add to the maintenance and preser- 
vation of our prosperity as a nation. 

The future citizen will be lacking in the essen- 
tials of true citizenship if he has not felt in his 
childhood the mild and subduing influence of the 
family, which we call domestic education. 

During early years every civilized man passes 
through that phase of character exhibited by 
the barbarous race from which he is descended. 
As the child's features— flat nose, forward open- 
ing nostrils, large lips, wide-apart eyes, etc.,— re- 
semble for a time those of the savage, so, too, do 
his instincts. 

Hence the tendency to cruelty, to thieving, to 
lying, so general among children. The popular 
idea that children are "innocent," while it may 
be true so far as it refers to evil knowledge, is to- 
tally false, in so far as it refers to evil impulses, 
as half an hour's observation in the nursery will 
prove to anyone. 

Boys, when left to themselves, as at a public 
school, treat each other far more brutally than 



men do, and were they left to themselves at an 
earlier age their brutality would be still more 
conspicuous. 

To suflfer the child to grow up without domestic 
education, which refines the child's instincts and 
leads it to obedience, honesty, truthfulness and 
a desire for cleanliness, would the breaking-up of 
the link that connects the trained child with the 
honorable future citizen. 

Great many of the children of the poor and 
hardy toilers are, through false economical con- 
ditions, deprived of that parental influence in 
their early life, which we call domestic educa- 
tion, and which is a necessary preparation for 
the school which they have to attend after hav- 
ing arrived at the proper age. 

To take these children, as is often done, and 
transpose them into Homes and Institutions, 
where they become the mechanical parts of a gi- 
gantic machine, is to prepare a citizenship for the 
nation which will be a menace to its welfare. 

Far better to aid the parents to keep the family 
ties intact, and supplement the breaks in the do- 
mestic training by assuming part of it in their 
name, referring to them always as the principals 
represented in this process. 

The reason for the State or the Nation assuming 
the task of educating its children and compelling 
the parents to abide by it, is that of self-preser- 
vation . 

The State is desirous to raise citizens who will 
act as a lasting stay to its existence and Govern- 
ment. 

But as the well-governed State is a true out- 
come of a well-regulated national family life, it 
becomes at once expedient that family life should 
be fostered and held inviolate as much as practi- 
cally possible. 

Let us not forget that in helping the child to 
preserve its position in the family circle, in sup- 
plying it with the elements of a domestic train- 
ing, which it so badly needs for its preparation 
for school life and all the following epochs of its 
public existence, we are engaged in a most eco- 
nomic enterprise. 

This enterprise will well repay us, for we are 
building up in our coming generation that which 
will speedily cure the evils which are oppressing 
us at present, evils which we have sought in vain 
by many worthy and philanthropic efforts to 
remedy. 

Reformation, which presupposes deformation, 
is good ; let it go on by all means, but true for- 
maiton is a better and a truer work. Let us see 
to it that the saplings grow straight and develop 
on all sides, and the tree be like the oak, steady, 
straight and steadfast, bidding defiance to the 
storms that might blow and rage around it. 

He who is penitent is almost innocent. 



The Abigail 



93 



DISCRETION IN THE CHOICE OF OBJECTS 
TO BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS. 



That our public school system is the best form 
of education that has yet dawned upon the world 
is an undisputed fact. 

It does more and has done more to equalize the 
ranks of our cosmopolitan aggregation of popu- 
lation than anything that so far has shown itself 
upon the horizon of observation. 

It is not to be wondered that Americans watch 
with a jealous eye any effort which has for its 
purpose to make any inroads upon the Catholic- 
ity of its character. 

If there are weaknesses apparent in its practi- 
cal working, they are faults of the management, 
but not in the least any faults in the system, 
which is the most perfect that science and econ- 
omy has thus far discovered. 

We might say here that too much stress is 
laid some times by those who manage our schools 
upon the equalization process in giving equal 
privileges for higher branches of education in a 
manner, so to say, promiscuous, not making suf- 
ficient allowance for adaptability and fitness for 
digestion into practical results by the recipient. 

Many of our boys and girls are often taken out 
of their spheres by dabbling in higher branches 
of education which makes their conditions and 
sarroundings irksome, and which leads them to 
become social failures, dissatisfied with their lot, 
carrying unfulfilled yearnings like a mill-stone 
hanging around their necks. 

It will be impossible to lay down a set of abso- 
lute rules for the dispensation of learning in this 
respect. 

Large scope for discretion should be left to 
the management of the various schools; for the 
principals or teachers coming in personal contact 
with the scholar should be best able to decide 
what amount of branches of education should be 
apportioned to each individual. 

Red tape is a good thing in politics and inter- 
national negotiations and so on. 
- But a little less red tape in the management of 
our public schools is desirable. 

The principal, the teacher, should not be alto- 
gether part of a machine controlled by the me- 
chanisms of Boards and Commissions. 

He should be allowed a great scope for judging 
of the material and the fitness of the subject to 
whom the material is to be applied. 

This would enhance the dignity of the position 
of the principal. 

Good men, in love with their vocation, fit to 
judge the character andcapacity of their scholars, 
could surely be found. 

Bias, prejudice, bigotry, are not found in the 
principal that like the poet is not made but born, 
they only crop out in mediocre philologians, 
( pardon the term applied to such) persons not 
fit to impart, or teach, for they have not learned 
to control their own thoughts. 



" Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord 
. . . that they may rest from their labors, and 
their works do follow them." 

On Sunday, January 22nd, an old and tried 
friend, Mr. J. A. Dahn, of Brooklyn, was called 
away from this earth, from his loving family cir- 
cle, and from his friends, to appear before His 
Lord to receive his reward. 

We offer our sympathy to his family ; they 
have lost a father and we have lost a friend. 

We do not grudge our departed friend his re- 
ward and the relief from the trials and cares of a 
dull and unappreciative world, we will all soon 
meet, and join in the happiness that will never 
end. 

On Wednesday, January 25th, funeral services 
were held at Mr. J. Dahn, Jr.'s, residence ; the 
house was filled, every available place was taken 
by friends who came to pay a tribute to our 
friend's memory , showing the universal esteem 
in which he was held. 



If a man be busy, and busy about his duty, 
what more does he require, for time or for eter- 
nity ? — Charles Kingsley. 



The following contributions were received since we went last to 
press, which we acknowledge with thanks. 

Peek Frean & Co i box crackers ; Eisner & Mendelson Co. i case 
glutin : Chas H. Fletcher i doz. Castoria ; B. Hirsch, ^^ dozen 
brooms : Am. Flag Co. 8 flag puzzles : Treat & Converse, I piece 
of muslin ; C. Gousset, lo lb. sugar : Chocolat Menier, 6 lb. cocoa ; 
Bovenine Co. i case Bovenine : Francis H. Leggett, 50 lbs. sugar: 
N. Y. Condensed Milk Co. 2 doz. condensed milk ; Stevens & Co. 
lot of wood : Milton Bradley Co. K. G. material ; Edwin H. Burr, 
$5; Dr. Jaeger's Sanitary Woolen System $5.00: McGibbon & Co. 
I5.00: Booth & Co. $5.00; Miss Gladys H. Weil, $1 00; York Street 
Flax Spinning Co. fs.oo: Ferdinand Loeb $5.00; Schefer, Schramm 
& Vogel $5.00; Wilkinson Bros. & Co. $5.00: C. N. Davidson $1; 
Hackett, Carhart & Co $5.00: David Stern &Co. $r; Meyer A. 
Bloomberg, $1: H. Levy 25 cts; Chas. D. Bernheimer, $2; A. M. 
Levy$i; H.Wilson 25 cts ;W.Mundt 25 cts; Maurice Biefeld & Co., 
50 cts; Frankenthal Bros,$i; Neuss.Hesslein & Co fi: Cook & Bern- 
heimer Co. $5; F. S. Delafield $r; Scherwin Williams Co. fs; E. 
G. Spellman & Co. $2; A. W. Faber $2: Great Atlantic & Pacific 
Tea Co. $2; Knothe Bros. $1; Fownes Bros. & Co. $2; Klugman & 
Goldforb $1; T. W. M. $2; Jaburg Bros. $t; Seggermann Bros.$i: 
Frank G. Hall $5; Syndicate Trading Co. $2; Materne & Hess $1; 
R. S. Mcintosh |i; Ed. Sommerich fi; B. Bernstein $1; A. Wulff, 
$1; Wm. Schroeder & Co. $1: S. Nachtigall $2; N. Schroeder $r ; 
Julius Loewenthal & Co $1: Theo. Schiess $1; George Epple & Son 
$2; C. E. Sprague$2: Fred Keppel $1; M. Unger $1; A. Andal- 
aft $1; Nelson Taylor $1; DouU, Miller & Co. $2; Billwiller Bros. 
$2; J. Grotta $1; Am. Rway. Supply Co. $1; Wm. H. Heller $1. 
Randolph W. Townsend $20; George M. Kneuper$2; The Kny- 
SchererCo.$i; George Schwabius 50 cts; Weelwright.Eldridge & Co. 
$5; a friend $2; Wolf, Sayre & Heller $1; Vogel.Killin, Kane & Co. 
$1; Rosenthal Bros. $1; Benze Bros. 50 cts: Joseph Ullmann $5; 
Leone &■ Fimpel $1; Ralli Bros. $5: The Gray Lithograph Co. $5; 
B. Frank Hooper $2: Wm. E. Thome $5; E. G. Toel $5: W. H. 
McL. $5: A. N. Ryerson $5: Woodward, Baldwin & Co. $5: Julius 
Klugraann $1; J. B.H. 25 cts; Engel, Heller & Co. $2; C.R. Ridge- 
way $1; Valley Cottage, $1; I. H. N. Iowa pr. Christian Herald, 
$2.50: Graham Booz, $1. 



94 



The Abigail 



ASTRAY. 



BY ELLA WHEELER WILCOX. 
There was a man, it was said one time, 
Who went astray in his youthful prime. 
Can the brain keep cool and the heart keep quiet. 
When the blood is a river that's running riot ? 
And boys will be boys, the old folks say, 
And a man is better who's had his day. 

The sinner reformed ; and the preacher told 
Of the prodigal son who came back to the fold. 
And Christian people threw open the door, 
With a warmer welcome than ever before ; 
Wealth and honor were his to command. 
And a spotless woman gave him her hand. 

And the world strewed their pathway with flowers abloom. 
Crying, God bless lady and God bless groom ! 

There was a maiden who went astray. 
In the sfolden dawn of her life's young day. 
She had more passion and heart than head, 
And she followed blindly where fond love led, 
And love unchecked is a dangerous guide, 
To wander at will at a fair girl's side. 

The woman repented and turned from sin, 

But no door opened to let her in : 

The preacher prayed that she might be forgiven. 

And told her to look for a place — in heaven. 

For this is the law of earth, we know. 

That the woman is stoned, while the man may go. 

A brave man wedded her after all. 

But the world said, frowning, " We shall not call." 



AN OLD LADY TELLS OF THE DAYS WHEN 
RUM DRINKING WAS COMMON. 



THE MONKEY AND THE SUGAR. 

I remember once in India giving a tame mon- 
key a lump of sugar inside a corked bottle. The 
monkey was of an enquiring mind and it nearly 
killed him. Sometimes, in an impulse of dis- 
gust, he would throw the bottle away out of his 
own reach, and then be distracted until it was 
given back to him. At other times he would sit 
with a countenance of the most intense dejec- 
tion, contemplating the bottled sugar, and then, 
as if pulling himself together for another effort 
at solution, would sternly take up the problem 
afresh and gaze into the bottle. He would tilt 
it up one way and try to drink the sugar out of 
the neck, and then, suddenly reversing it, try to 
catch it as it fell out at the bottom. 

Under the impression that he could capture the 
sugar by surprise, he kept rasping his teeth 
against the glass in futile bites, and, warming 
to the pursuit of the revolting lump, used to tie 
himself into regular knots round the bottle. 
Fits of the most ludicrous melancholy would 
alternate with spasms of delight as a new idea 
seemed to suggest itself, followed by a fresh se- 
ries of experiments. 

Nothing availed, however, until one day a light 
was shed upon the problem by a jar containing 
bananas falling from the table with a crash, and 
the fruit rolling about in all directions. His 
monkeyship contemplated the catastrophe, and 
reasoned upon it with the intelligence of a Hum- 
boldt. Lifting the bottle high in his claws, he 
brought it down upon the floor with a tremen- 
dous noise, smashing the glass into fragments, 
after which he calmly transferred the sugar to 
his mouth and munched it with much satisfac- 
tion. — From Aunt Joe's Basket. 



Mrs. Helen Campbell has admirably put the ar- 
•gument for the new times as contrasted with the 
old. She says that an energetic lady 80 years of 
age declared that the good old times were largely 
humbug. She said, " Don't I remember. There 
was my beautiful Aunt Adelaide, whose husband 
kicked her out into the snow one winter's night 
in one of his periodical sprees. He had done it 
before and this time she would not go back. But 
the law gave him her property and the three 
children, and she ended her days in an Insane 
Asylum because she could not get them. 

" No, my dear, thank God you live to-day and 
not 100 years ago, and every new day will give you 
more and more cause for being thankful. It is a 
better time for every soul on earth and this 
thing people call " good times " is a dreary hum- 
bug that might better be decently interred and 
done with. Give me the new time and the new 
man, for he is coming right along side by side 
with the new woman — God bless her ! " And 
God bless him too ! 



A Miller had his neighbor arrested upon the 
charge of stealing wheat from his mill, but, be- 
ing unable to prove the charge, the Court ad- 
judged that the plaintiff should apologize to the 
accused. — "Well," said he, "I've had you ar- 
rested for stealing my wheat, I can't prove it, 
and I am sorry for it." 

The heart will commonly govern the head, and 
it is certain that any strong passion, set the 
wrong way, will always infatuate the wisest of 
men ; therefore the first part of wisdom is to 
watch the affections. 

OUR WORKING STAFF. 

Mr. C. Pr. Devare, Principal. 

Mrs. E. Pr. Devare, General. 

Miss E. A. Burd, Special, Drawing. 

Miss I. G. Stanley, Special, Physical Culture. 

Mr. John Lulirs, Assistant, General. 

Miss Lizzie Lammy, Attendance. 



^ TWembersbijj -^ 

OF THE 

Abigail ^ree School and J^indergarten 

104 Sullivan Street, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York City. 

FOR 1899. 



I^oard of Direetops. 

S. S. SwAiM, 35 Park Eow. 
Geo. W. Van Siclen, 141 Broadway. 
H. B. Smith, 1475 Broadway. 
Stephen Merritt, 241 W. 23d St. 

J. E. Messenger, M.D., 323 W. 19th St. 



The Abigail 95 

R. G. Dun & Co., 
Rev. S. L. Osborne,D.D., 
Newark. 
A. G. Hyde & Son, 
Charles Henry, 
Hxjyler's, 
S. Laflin Kbllog, 
T. A. Lewis, 
J. McCreery & Co., 
James M. Speers, of J. McCutcheon & Co., 
J. McCoRMiCK, E". Nielsen, 

Moses Newborg, Selchow & Richtbr, 

H. H. Palmer, S. L. Bartlett, Boston, 

The James Reilly Repair & Supply Co., 



0ffieers. 

J. S. Huyler, President. 

64 Irving Place. 

Mrs. R. F. Huyler, Vice-President, 

8 W. 72d St. 

Mrs. J. V. Dennett, Treasurer, 
300 W. 139th St. 

Mrs. E. Pr. Devarb, General Manager, 
104 Sullivan St. 

C. Pr. Devare, Sec'y and Supt, 
104 Sullivan St. 



Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley, Business Manager, 

Office at School. 



J(_nnual TVlembers. 



E. J. Brady, 

Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Childs, 

Chas. J. Coulter, 

B. F. DeKlyn, 

Wm. F. Havbmeyer, 

J. A. Dahn, 

Mrs. H. B. Smith, 

Jacob Schiff, 

W. E. Tefft, 

Mrs. J. D. Wasson, 

L. Klopsch, Ph. D. 



S. W. Bowne, 

S. B. Close, 

A. W. Dennett, 

M. W. Fogg, 

Geo. E. Twele, 

J. A. Dahn, Jr. 

Mrs. L. S. Smith, 

Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Taylor 

Singer Mfg. Co., 

Ed. Stallknecht, 

Baltimore. 



R. F. Codington, 
Madam Geo. Ehret, 
Mrs. J. Minor Lincoln, 
Edwin J. Gillies, 
Arthur H. Hearn, 
Henry Heide, 
Isaiah Josephy. 
p. l. koempel, 
Otto E. Lohrke, 



Supporting 7V\,embeps. 

Arnold & Constable, E. W. Bennett, 
Wm. Baldwin, C. Bruno, 

Henry Clementson, H. B. Claflin Co., 



ROCKWOOD & Co., 
C. H. Ridge way. 
Miss G. W. Tobias, 
Chas. L. Tiffany, 
John U. Fraley, 
H. K. Wampole & Co. 



Rand, McNally & Co., 
R. Marsh, 
Wm. E. Thorne, 
r. w. townsend, 
Clarence Whitman, 
The Bovenine Co. 



The National Biscuit Co. 

Am. Fruit Packing Co., Coat's Thread Co., 

The Andrews School Mfg. Co. 




Established in 1876. 



MAJQR^S CEMENT 



Price, 15c and 25c per bottle. 

Specially prepared for liouseliold purposes. Mends anything that 

brea'ks; Meerschaum, Tipping Billiard Cues. Just the thing 

to fasten the end ot a bandage ; also, to stick it 

to the skin to keep it in position. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

a wonderful sticker. No Bicyclist should be without it. For 
repairing Rubber Boots, Shoes, Eubber Garments, Silk Um- 
brellas. 15 CENTS. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

Of surprising adhesive power. Boots and Shoes, and articles of 
Leather. 18 CENTS. 

At Druggists and House Furnishing Stores, or by mail, free of 
postage. 



BEWARE! 



TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE. 



MAJOR CEMENT CO., 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 

KeRBY, WaTSO.N & Co., MOISTKEAL. 



96 



The Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
child is the father to the man ; and as 
the child is, so in all probability will the man be. 
History and experience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon the child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carrj^ it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1895. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of $10.00 will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of §35.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient tu respond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. January, 1898. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to $500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donationj^etc, to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 
II. 
This institution guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 
The School will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The school is intended for boys and girls. 

V. 
The age at which children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind will be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those who 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 
The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industry and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this School will be 
provided each day with a substantial lunch. 
X. 
A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 
Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P. M. XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory, is held 10.30 A. M. 
during the Summer : 2 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensary, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 PM. 
XV. 
Every week day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
4 P. M., the School is thrown open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend public 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs 6.30 P.M. 










Oije SgI^ooI 



09e Qourjtry 



Oije laijgua^e 



Second Class Matter at the New York, N. T. Post Office, April 8th, 



Vol. II, No. 1. 



104 Sullivan St., New York City, March, 1899. 



50c PER Year 



LANTEENS WANTING. 



This is a dark world to many people, a world of 
chills, a world of fog, a world of wet blankets. 
Nine-tenths of the men we meet need encourage- 
ment. Your work is so urgent that you have no 
time to stop and speak to the people ; but every 
day you meet scores, perhaps hundreds and thou- 
sands of persons upon whom you might have di- 
rect end immediate influence. "How ? how? " 
you cry out. We answer by the grace of your 
physiognomy. There is nothing more catching 
than a face with a lantern behind it, shining- 
clear through. We have no admiration for a face 
with a dry smile, meaning no more than the grin 
of a false face. But a smile written by the hand 
of God, as an index or table of contents to whole 
volumes of good feeling within, is a benediction. 
You say, " My face is hard and lacking in mobil- 
ity, and my benignant feelings are not observa- 
ble in the facial proportions." We do not believe 
you. Freshness and geniality of soul are so sub- 
tle and pervading that they will, at some eye 
or mouth, leak out. Set behind your face a feel- 
ing of gratitude to God, and kindliness toward 
man, and you will every day preach a sermon 
long as the streets you walk, a sermon with as 
many heads as the number of the people you 
meet, and differing from other sermons in the 
fact that the longer it is the better. 

The reason that there are so many sour faces, 
so many frowning faces, so many dull faces, is 
because men consent to be acrid and petulant 
and stupid. The way to improve your face is to 
improve your disposition. Attractiveness of 
physiognomy does not depend on regularity of 



feature. We know persons whose brows are 
shaggy, and whose eyes are oblique, and noses 
are ominously longitudinal, and the mouth strag- 
gles along in unusual and unexpected directions ; 
and yet they are men and women of so much soul 
that we love to look upon them, and their pres- 
ence is an evangelism. They get married sooner 
than the painted doll babies that call themselves 
young ladies, and make home happy long after 
the curls have turned gray, and the foot of the 
dance has turned into a rheumatic shuffle.— i)r. 
Talmage in Christian Herald. 



HOW TO USE MEN. 



Things are what they are used for. The artist 
uses a stone and it is a statue ; the mason uses a 
stone and it is a doorstep. And beyond mere na- 
ture see how we use men ! We are each other's 
raw material. I make you up in some shape in- 
to my life and you in some way make me up into 
yours. But what man is of so fixed a character 
that he can be made up into only one invariable 
thing ? Each man makes of his neighbor that for 
which he uses him. So of all influences and mo- 
tives. The same educations affect and press upon 
two lives. One rises on them into greatness, and 
the other drags them down upon it and is crush- 
ed beneath them into ruin. How is it that the 
Pharisee and the Publican came down the same 
temple steps, one cold, one proud and bitter, and 
the other with his heart full of tenderness, and 
gratitude and humblest charity ?— Phillips 
Brooks, 



The Abigail 



SUCCESSFUL MEN. 



AN HONORABLE MAN. 



The men who fail in life and those who move 
in the common grooves would have us believe 
that " circumstances make the man," and that 
" position " and success are the result of luck or 
good fortune. In some cases this is true, but an 
overwhelming majority of the world's successful 
men are workers, not men with exceptional nat- 
ural ability and peculiar and extraordinary tal- 
ent, but simply workei'S. They are men who 
make their time count, who have not sought f o 
ease and comfort as the best to be obtained in 
life. Let any of us look up at abler and more 
successful men, consider the time we waste in 
lazy ease and in uselessly expending energy. 

There we see the cause of our own inferiority. 
The workers, the persistent and intelligent plod- 
ders, are climbing the ladder and passing while 
we are stopping to view the beautiful scenery 
from a round half way up. — Our Home. 

Every man has his moments of inspiration, 
when he feels and thinks and can do what at 
other times is impossible. But they are only mo- 
ments, and not many of them at a time, and he 
should, therefore, make the most of them. 

Mr. McHardy, Chairman of the Prison Com- 
missioners of Scotland, has been calling attention 
to the remarkable fact that prisons are emptiest 
when times are hard and labor difficult to obtain. 
When money becomes plentiful and work abun- 
dant, prisoners flock in. The explanation given 
is that the real cause of crime is intemperance. 

There is a kind of comradeship and understand- 
ing between children and animals that is pecu- 
liarly pleasing. Rev. Anna Shaw tells of a little 
incident she noticed while preaching one day in 
a little prairie town. The church doors were 
open and a big Newfoundland dog walked in and 
seated himself in the aisle. Two or three men 
got up, one after the other, and taking hold of 
his paws, tried to pull him toward the door. But 
the big fellow did not understand what was 
wanted, and as he was strong and heavy, all the 
pulling did not budge him an inch. Others took 
hold of his collar, but that came off over his head, 
and the dog sat gravely still. The men then 
gave it up and returned to their places. Then, 
when all was quiet again, a little freckle-faced 
boy, not more than seven years old, reached 
over and patted the dog's head. The animal 
understood that, and looked his appreciation and 
wagged his tail. The next minute the child crept 
out of the pew, and still caressing the big, shaggy 
head, said, " Come, doggie," and moved toward 
the door. The dog willingly followed, and in a 
moment both passed out into the sunshine. — The 
Humane Advocate. 



I honor the toil worn craftsman,that with earth- 
made implement laboriously conquers the earth, 
and makes her man's. Venerable to me is the 
hard hand, crooked, coarse ; wherein nothwith- 
standing lies a cunning virtue, indefeasibly royal, 
as of the scepter of this planet. Venerable, too, 
is the rugged face, all weather tanned, besoiled, 
with its rude intelligence ; for it is the face of a 
man living manlike. 0, but the more venerable 
for thy rudeness, and even because we must pity 
as well as love thee ! Hardly entreated Brother ! 
For us was thy back so bent, for us were thy 
straight limbs and fingers so deformed ! Thou 
wert our conscript, on whom the lot fell, and 
fighting our battles wert so marred. For in 
thee, too, lay a God created form, but it was not 
to be unfolded ; encrusted must it stand with 
the thick adhesions and defacements of labor ; 
and thy body, like thy soul, was not to know 
freedom. Yet toil on, toil on ; thou art in thy 
duty, be out of it who may ; thou toilest for the 
altogether indispensable, for daily bread. — 
Thomas Carlyle. 



He that hath no knowledge of that which he 
ought to know, is a brute beast among men ; he 
that knoweth no more than he hath need of is a 
man among brute beasts ; and he that knoweth 
all that may be known is a god among men. — 
Pythagoras. 

Prosperity is consistent with intense wordli- 
ness, intense selfishness, intense hardness of 
heart, while the grander features of human char- 
acter—self-sacrifice, disregard of pleasure, patri- 
otism, love of knowledge, devotion to any great 
and good cause — these have no tendencies to 
bring men what is called fortnne. 



FOOD can be greatly improved by Steam Cooking. 




You can see by the cut on the left that the spring valve retains 
the steam to a pressure of about four pounds to the square inch, if the 
pressure gets higher, the safety valve allows the steam to escape, that 
gives you a high temparature of 235° 

These vessels are used for cooking Meats, Soups, Fruits and 
Vegetables, as well as Cereals. 

Send for illustrated descriptive circular. 

A. iVlAaOR, 

461 Pearl Street, NEW YORK CITY 



The Abigail 



THE THREE LESSONS. 



HIS COURSE OF ACTION. 



There are three lessons I would write — 

Three words as with a burning pen, 
In tracings of eternal light, 

Upon the hearts of men. 

Have hope. Though clouds environ now, 

And gladness hides her face in scorn ; 
Put thou the shadow from thy brow — 

No night but hath its morn. 

Have Faith 1 Where'er thy barque is driven — 
The calm's disport the tempest's mirth, 

Know this — God rules the host of heaven, 
The inhabitants of earth. 

Have Love. Not love alone for one, 

But man as man thy brother call. 
And scatter like the circling sun 

Thy charities on all. 

Thus grave these lessons on thy soul — 

Faith, Hope and Love— and thou shall find 

Strength when life's surges rudest roll. 
Light when thou else wert blind. 

— Schiller. 



The experience of failure is one that comes in 
a greater or less degree to every one at times, 
trying the metal, and probing the character as no 
prosperity can do. 

HARDSHIP MAN'S TRUE TEST. 



Every condition, be what it may, has hard- 
ships, hazards, pain ; we try to escape them ; we 
pine for a sheltered lot, for a smooth path, for 
cheering friends and unbroken success. But 
Providence ordains storms, disasters, hostilities, 
sufferings ; and the great question whether we 
shall live to any purpose or not, whether we shall 
grow strong in mind and heart, or be weak and 
pitiable, depends on nothing so much as on our 
use of the adverse circumstances. Outward evils 
are designed to school our passions, and to rouse 
our faculties and virtues into intenser action. 
Sometimes they seem to create new powers. 
DiflBculty is the element and resistance the true 
work of man. Self-culture never goes on so fast 
as when embarassed circumstances, the opposi- 
tion of man or the elements, unexpected changes 
of the times, or other forms of suffering, instead 
of disheartening, throw us on our inward re- 
sources, turn us for strength to God, clear up to 
us the great purpose of life, and inspire calm res- 
olution. No greatness or goodness is worth 
much unless tried in these fires. — W .E .Clianning . 

Comparatively Happy. — He : "Are you happy, 
now that you are married?"— She: "Comparative- 
ly."— He: "Compared with whom:"— She: "Com- 
pared with my husband." 



Some time ago several constables were assem- 
bled at headquarters for the purpose of being 
examined on matters relating to police duty, 
previous to their being appointed as sergeants. 

The following question was asked a candidate 
by the examining board : 

" You are on duty in the vicinity of a menag- 
erie, and you are informed that a lion has es- 
caped and is roaming about the streets. What 
steps would you take ? " 

"Jolly long steps, sir," replied the " bobby " to 
the amusement of his mates and the members of 
the board. — Spare Moments. 



THE ".BEST MAN " IS A RELIC. 



While we smile at the wife-stealing propensity 
of the savage or half-savage nations, we cherish 
as our dearest form a custom that had its direct 
origin in this very self-same practice. The "best 
man," who plays so important a part in well-reg- 
ulated marriages that nowadays have any pre- 
tense at all to the fashionable, once on a time 
in Sweden occupied a position that was useful as 
well as ornamental. 

In the old days the Swedish groom found it de- 
sirable, in fact, to have several "best men" to 
defend him from the assaults of rivals, and pre- 
vent them from carrying away his bride. The 
Scandinavian warrior of ancient times was far 
too lofty in his ideas to condescend to plead for 
a maiden's hand. So he patiently waited until 
some other man who was more gallant had ob- 
tained the fair one's consent. Then when all the 
details had been nicely arranged, the proud war- 
rior, with an army of well-trained retainers, 
dashed down on the wedding party, and, if strong 
enough, carried away the bride. 

The "best men" (and it was very essential 
that they should be the best men in those days), 
therefore, became necessary fixtures to the mar- 
riage ceremony, and they were so well esteemed 
and their popularity became so permanent, that 
when the reason for their existence was removed 
they were still i-etained. Hence, the custom is 
preserved in the " best man " of to-day. 



I HATE hypocrites, insolent comedians who put 
on their virtues with their gloves. 

This is true, pure philanthropy that buries not 
its gold in ostentatious charity, but builds its hos 
pital in the human heart. — Harley. 

Politeness. — Mendicant (holding out his hand): 
"I beg your pardon." — Gent: "Don't mention it. 
1 thought you were going to beg money." 



The Abigail 



..The Abigail.. 

C. Pr. DEVARE, Editor. Mrs. J. V. DENNETT, Assistpn' Editor. 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
Subscription Price, 50c Per Y:ar. 5 cents Per Copy . 



DISAPPOINTMENTS. 



All Communications, Subscriptions, etc., should be sent to the Edl 
tor, 104 SuUiTan Street, Borough of Manhattan, N. T. City. 



"Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." Luke XVllI., 16. 



New York, March, 1899. 



EDITORIAL. 



THE SECOND VOLUME. 

With this issue we begin our second volume of 
the "Abigail." 

The motive underlying the starting of the 
"Abigail" last year has proved practical. 

The paper has been the means of bringing to 
the notice of a large circle of readers the object 
of the work carried on in the Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 

Its readers are numerous, by some letters re- 
ceived by us, and remarks made to Mr.s Stanley, 
our business manager, they appreciate the little 
paper and look for it regularly. 

Most of our patrons are business men, who, 
amidst all the hurly burly of hurry and excite- 
ment which their occupation begets, yet find time 
to rescue the "Abigail" from tne avalanche of 
mail and advertising matter received at their 
counting-houses, read it and take it to their 
homes. 

The paper is at present sent regularly to about 
1,100 friends and sympathizers. 

We feel sure something more than a mere 
" quid pro qno," will result from this. 

Having engaged the attention and the sympa- 
thies of their friends, the editorial management 
will do their best and zealously strive to still 
more fasten the readers to the work represented, 
so that before long a permanent Home will be 
awarded to the children of the "Abigail Free 
School." 

The editorial management also take this occa- 
sion to express their thanks and appreciation for 
the many encouraging words and favorable re- 
marks and notices received from their friends 
among the many readers, and also from the 
"Press," religious and secular. 



The world is full of disappointments. Many a 
brave-hearted good man has centered his ambi- 
tion upon some great project, and great was 
his distress when disappointment and failure 
overtook him. 

To us who are engaged in training the waifs of 
our city, and preparing them for the practical ab- 
sorption of the lessons and tasks before them 
while developing into man and woman-hood, no 
such shadows and ghosts as disappointment pro- 
duces, come to haunt our dreams. 

Stripped of all the illusions of approved suc- 
cess, we went to work, to mould and form, and 
what is moulded and formed will remain ; this is 
an ineffaceal)le and infallible outcome of logic 
truly based. 

Should otir labors stop to-morrow, should we be 
suddenly called away to the better and happier 
existence, what is formed will unalterably re- 
main, let them be few or many. 

Providence will find others to ivork in the same 
and perhaps a more efficacious spirit as He has 
suffered us to do in our own way, guided by His 
hand. 

It is not sufficient to do only enough for our 
own time, but we should be up and doing as true 
providers for times ahead. 

Such is the spirit of our work, to it we ascribe 
our success and are grateful to the Great Pro- 
vider. 

CHARACTER. 



" Always endeavor to be really what you wish 
to appear." What a wealth of practical wisdom 
and integrity do not these words contain ! 

B}'- its faithful observance on the part of many 
of us, many, many stumbling-blocks to the young 
and inexperienced would be obliterated. 

Every man, however, who respects himself and 
values the respect of others, will carry out this 
maxim in act— doing honestly what he proposes 
to do — putting the highest character into his 
work. 

Men whose acts are at direct variance with their 
words, command no respect, and what they say 
has but little weight ; even truths, when uttered 
by them, seem to come blasted from their lips. 

True character acts rightly, whether in secret 
or in the sight of men. 

That boy was well-trained who, when asked 
why he did not pocket some fruit, for nobody 
was there to see, replied, "Yes, there was. I was 
there to see myself, and I don't intend ever to 
see myself do a dishonest thing." This is a sim- 
ple but not inappropriate illustration of principle, 
or conscience, dominating in the character, and 
exercising a noble protectorate over it, not merely 
a passive influence, but an active power regulat- 
ing the life. 



The Abigail 



WORK AND PROGRESS. 



The whining cant that proceeds occasionally 
from the lips of some disillusioned preacher or 
self-appointed reformer about the general break- 
ing up of morality, religion, honesty, and of 
all that good men should prize, is lamentable 
enough to make angels shed tears. 

It seems to us that these misguided men must 
see through eyes looking from a body that main- 
tains in itself all the evil against which they pro- 
claim with their pessimistic gusto. 

That sin and uprighteousness hold high carni- 
val in many places no one will deny ; that the 
same have held almost similar orgies in days 
past, those who read and have read will also 
admit. 

That the world in the midst of all this havoc 
is better than it was 100 years ago does not 
take an over-large acumen of wisdom to admit 
and prove. 

And that our next generation will be more 
advanced in morality, more loyal to true religion 
and principle is also a fact which we can safely 
put down as a challenge to these continual cal- 
amity harpers. 

Instead of pounding continually on the want of 
this, that and the other thing below Fourteenth 
Street, instead of hysterically proclaiming fail- 
ures and defeat, act rationally and get back to 
the principle underlying all true formation or 
reformation. 

Begin at the beginning, stoop and pick up the 
roots, get at the children, the lowly children, 
wash them, comb them, clean them, so to say : — 
teach them, you will find them apt scholars, 
mould them, you will find them very pliable ma- 
terial. 

But, of course, you will have to bury part of 
your ambition, you will have to confine the thun- 
der of your eloquence, you will have to cut short 
those great flights of oratory. 

But what of it, it will be useless, for as you 
yourselves say, with them all you have achieved 
the bottomless nothing. 



EARLY TRAINING IS BUILDING UPON 
SOLID FOUNDATION. 



It is scarcely possible to over-estimate the im- 
portance of training the young to vii'tuous habits. 
In them they are the easiest formed, and when 
formed they last for life, like letters cut on the 
bark of a tree or on the rind of a pumpkin, they 
grow and widen with age. 

" Train up a child in the way he should go, and 
when he is old he will not depart from it." The 
beginning holds within it the end ; the first start 
on the road of life determines the direction and 
the destination of the journey ; "it is the first 



step only that is costly,"as a French writer has it. 

As habit strengthens with age, and character 
becomes formed, any turning into a new path 
becomes more and more difficult. 

To uproot an old habit is sometimes a more 
painful thing, and vastly more difficult than to 
wrench out a tooth. 

Try and reform a habitually indolent, or im- 
provident or drunken person, and in a large ma- 
jority of cases you will fail. 

For the habit in each case has wound itself in 
and through the life until it has become an integ- 
ral part of it, and cannot be uprooted. 

Hence the necessity to form habits and charac- 
ter in the child when developing. 

We find so many children growing up without 
any controlling force within them to cope with 
the growth of habits of evil and depravity, gen- 
erated by their lone condition,that we often wish 
to have the ear of every practical man and 
woman in our great metropolis, to ask their help 
and their infiuence to aid in this great work of 
moulding and directing their life and character. 



ECONOMIC RESULTS. 



Pauperism is gradually dying out in the neigh- 
borhood of the location of the Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. 

The efforts of the lessons of self-respect taught 
to parents through their children have been well 
rewarded. 

Not having time at our disposal to seek for re- 
sults we have never indicated even with as much 
as a thought any approximate figures. 

Our attention, however, was drawn to this mat- 
ter during the heavy snowstorms of last month. 

Some of the sensational papers manufactured a 
terrible distress among the poor below Four- 
teenth street. Through these exaggerations some 
politicii3ns were moved to disgorge some of their 
wealth. 

Among other things, a coal fund for the poor 
was created, the poor were notified that their ap- 
plications would be received and attended to. 

No applications were received from our neigh- 
borhood with the exception of a few, very few, 
and those few represent people who have never 
been under the infiuence of the lessons for abol- 
ishing pauperism, taught by our process at the 
Abigail Free School and Kindergarten. 

This is one of those practical results that prove 
the wisdom and the economy to educate the 
child, the waif, and the so-called heir of pauper- 
ism. 

Give us your sympathy, give us your help, to 
put our work on a fair and stable basis, and to 
branch out in other directions. 



6 The Abigail 

THIS LIFE IS WHAT WE MAKE IT. THE DOCTOR'S STORY. 



Let's oftener talk of noble deeds 

And rarer of the bad ones, 
And sing about our happy days, 

And none about the bad ones. 
We are not made to fret or sigh, 

And when grief sleeps to wake it ; 
Bright happiness is standing by — 

This life is what we make it. 

Let's find the sunny side of men, 

Or be believers in it ; 
A light there is in every soul 

That takes the pains to win it. 
Oh ! there's a slumbering good in all. 

And we perchance may wake it. 
Oar hand contains the magic wand 

This life is what we make it. 

Then here's to those whose loving hearts 

Shed light and joy about them ! 
Thanks be to them for countless gems 

We ne'er had known without them. 
Oh ! this should be a happy world 

To all who may partake it ; 
To all who may partake it ; 

The fault's our own if it is not — 
This life is what we make it. 



OLD TIMES VERSUS NEW. 



It is a pity we are becoming so inhospitable. 
We have sadly fallen off even since our grand- 
mothers' days. " No one was ever turned from 
our door, and we had company half the year 
round when I was a child," observes an aged lady 
long past her four score years, who sits by my 
side as I write. "But then, how we had to work, 
scouring the pewter and doing the cooking ! We 
always set ten plates on the table at father's, and 
there was an extra one for the stranger that 
might come in." 

And this is one of the very causes of the deca- 
dence of hospitality — the toil and expense of ex- 
ercising it. Modern house-wives do not care to 
assume the care and anxiety that are necessary in 
entertaining company. We doubt if they are 
any happier or better for neglecting this duty. 
One may serve God with plate and cutlery and 
broom, as certainly as she can with a psalm book 
or liturgy. And it is not necessary to make cost- 
ly entertainment every time we ask a friend to 
dinner. Quite as much depends upon the ban - 
queters as upon the banquet, and if there be 
cleanliness of appointments and cheerful presi- 
dency of the table, what matter if the fare is 
plain ! True hospitalily consists much more in 
the spirit than in any outward show. I take it 
that we were born to serve, and in serving others 
we perform one of tne noblest duties required of 
us.—-^u7it Joe. 



" Children, I have a story to tell you," the old 
doctor said to the young people the. other even- 
ing. " One day — a long, hot day it had been, 
too — I met my father on the road to town. 

" I wish you would take this package to the 
village for me, Jim," he said hesitating. 

" Now, I was a boy of twelve, not fond of work, 
and was just out of the hayfield, where I had 
been at work since daybreak. I was tired,dusty, 
and hungry. It was two miles into town. I 
wanted to get my supper and to wash and dress 
for singing school. " My first impulse was to re- 
fuse, and to do it harshly, for I was vexed that 
he should ask after my long day's work. If I did 
refuse he would go himself. He was a patient, 
old man. But something stopped me — one of 
God's good angels, I think. 

" Of course, father, I'll take it," I said, heart- 
ily, giving my scythe to one of the men. 

" 'Thank you, Jim,' he said. "I was going 
myself, but somehow I don't feel very strong to- 
day.' 

" He walked with me to the road that turned 
off to the town ; as he left he put his hand on my 
arm, saying again : "Thank you.my son. —You've 
always been a good boy to me, Jim.' 

" I hurried into the town and back again. 

" When I came near the house I saw a crowd 
of farm hands at the door. 

" One of them came to me, the tears rolling 
down his face. 

" ' Your father,' he said, ' fell dead just as he 
reached the house. The last words he spoke were 
to you. 

" I am an old man now ; but I have thanked 
God over and over again in all the years that have 
passed since that last hour, that those last words 
were, ' You've always been a good boy to me.' " 
— Selected by Aunt Joe. 



ETERNITY. 



No man can pass into eternity, for he is al- 
ready in it. The dead are no more in eternity 
now than they always were, or than every one of 
us is at this moment. We may ignore the things 
eternal, shut our eyes hard to them ; live as 
though they had no existence— nevertheless. 
Eternity is around us here, now,at this moment, 
at all moments, and it will have been around us 
every day of our ignorant, sinful, selfish lives. 
Its stars are ever over our heads, wJiile we are so 
diligent in the dust of our worldliness, or in the 
tainted stream of our desires. The dull brute 
globe moves through its ether and knows it not ; 
even so our souls are bathed in eternity and are 
never conscious of it. — F. W. Farrar. 



The Abigail 




LIGHT OF NATURE. 



Established in 1876. 



MAJdSS CEMENT 



PRICE, 15c AND 25c PER BOTTLE. 

Specially prepared for household purposes. Mends anything that 

breaks; Meerschaum, Tipping Billiard (Jues. Just the thing 

to fasten the end ot a bandage ; also, to stick it 

to tlie skin to keep it in position. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

A wonderful sticker. No Bicyclist should be without it. For 
repairing Rubber Boots, Shoes, Rubber Garments, Silk Um- 
brellas. 15 CENTS. 

MAJOR'S RUBBER CEMENT: 

Of surprising adhesive power. Boots and Shoes, and articles of 
Leather. 18 CENTS. 

At Druggists and House Furnishing Stores, or by mail, free of 
postage. 

BEWARE!!! TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE. 

MAJOR CEMENT CO., 

461 Pearl Street, New York City. 

KeRBY, WaTSO.\ & Co., MO.NTKEAL. 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO 



...JUVENILE MISSION WORK. 



PRICE, 50 CENTS PER YEAR. 

$1.00 per incii per insertion. 



Rates of Advertising : 



$10.00 per inch per year. 



Business and Publication Office : 
104 SULL-IVAINI STREET, 

Borough of Manhattan, New York. 



Mrs. Isabella G. Stanley, Business Manager, 

Office at School. 



Men strike their knives through the Bible be- 
cause they say that the light of nature is suffi- 
cient. Indeed ! Have the fire worshippers of 
India, cutting themselves vs'ith lancets until the 
blooe spurts out of every pore, found the light of 
nature sufficient ? Has the Bornesian cannibal, 
gnawing the roasted flesh from human bones, 
found the light of nature sufficient ? Has the 
Chinese woman, with her foot cramped and de- 
formed into a cow's hoof, found the light of na- 
ture sufficient ? Could the ancients see heaven 
from the heights of Ida or Olympus ? No ! I 
call upon the pagodas of superstition, the Brah- 
minic tortures, the infanticide of the Ganges, the 
bloody wheels of the Juggernaut to prove that 
of the light nature is not sufficient. — Christian 
Herald. 

Poetry is the breath and finer spirit of all 
knowledge; it is the impassioned expression 
which is the countenance of all science. — Words- 
worth. 

There are those who never reason on what 
they should do, but what they have done ; as if 
reason had her eyes behind and could only see 
backwards. — Fielding. 



The following contributions were ereceivcd since we went last t 
press, which we acknowledge with thanks. 

Kemp, Day & Co., i bo.x canned vegetables; Stevens & Co., 
kindling wood: Hanlon & Goodman, lot of brushes: Volkman, 
Stollwerk & Co., 10 lbs. Cocoa: George C. Flint Co., i desk: Fennell 
& Pye, I doz. Chairs: H. O'Neill, 5 lbs. Cocoa; Annin & Co. 8 doz. 
flags: J. W. Beardsley & Sons, 15 lbs, dried fish; Gardner, Hall, Jr. 
&Co.,fi: Nationol Casket Co., $1; Prince & Wolf, 50c; A. H. 
Hamilton, 9fr; I. W. Rubell, $2; A. Beller &Co., $2; W. L. Ly- 
man $2: Price & Willigrcdt. $1: George A. Hickok, $3: A. G. 
Spaulding & Bros., $2: C. T. McBurney, $5: R. J. Freeman, loc; 
H. Kuhn (& Sons, $1; Glaenzer Freres and Rheinboldt,$2: Sohn and 
Oppenheimer, $1: R. and G. Corset Co., $2: F. M. Lupton Publish- 
ing Co., $2: L. Sanders. $1: G. S. Graves, $2; A. A. Mullin, $1: 
W. H. Rockfellow, $1: Koch, Son & Co., $1; E. Faber, $2; J. S. 
Oberley, 50 c.: Jacob S. Bernheimer, $2; M. Bermas & Bro., $2; 
Passavant & Co. $2; R. Wolff, $2; Riley, David & Sehoen, $1: G. 
Seidenberger & Co, $2; Sam Eisemann & Co. $1: W. H. Langley & 
Co. $2; J. W. Sturdevant $1; Price Bros. & Co. $2; Henry Har- 
burger $1; Henry BischoiT & Co. $1: Gardiner Binding and Mailing 
Co. $2; T. S. Buck 50 c: M. Hausman 50 c; W. S. Wellington' $2; 
Bartlett B. Page $2; L I. Lenhardt, 50 c: Richard Butler, $5; T. 
B. Cunningham $5; Ed. Lauterbach, I5; B. K. Moseley.$5: Parker 
& Mclntyre $5; E. Schleip $2; Brill Bros. $5: W. M. Taussig, $5: 
F. E. Lalley, $2: N. C. Mellen, $5; Isaiah Josephy, $10; Chas. 
Strauss, $5; Koenig & Schuster, I5: H. J. Bridger, $10.35. 



OUR WORKING- STAFF. 

Mr. C. Pr. Devare, Principal. 

Mrs. E. Pr. Devare, General. 

Miss E. A. Burd, Special, Drawing. 

Miss I. G. Stanley, Special, Physical Culture. 

Mr. John Luhrs, Assistant, General. 

Miss Lizzie Lammy, Attendance. 



8 



The Abigail 



WE frequently hear the expression that the 
child is the father to the man ; and as 
the child is, so in all probability will the man be. 
History and experience teach us that the first 
impressions made upon the heart of the innocent 
child are as a rule lasting and indelible ; how im- 
portant then is it to stamp upon the child's heart 
maxims and principles that may carry it safely 
through the shoals and shallows of the world. In 
all our large cities we have a vast army of little 
ones who, through no fault of their own, but 
merely on account of various untoward circum- 
stances, are deprived of the opportunity of 
equipping themselves thoroughly for the great 
battle of life. How many of our boys and girls, 
who are now lost to responsibility, might have 
been useful members and even bright ornaments 
of society, had they only had a fair chance in 
their childhood. 

Thousands of children are spending their tender 
years on the street, surrounded by its direful in- 
fluence, deprived of all early domestic education, 
which is the principle foundation of character. 
The unfortunate circumstances that compel these 
children to become veritable waifs are of so 
many various hues we must leave them to other 
hands to set right. 

The Abigail Free School and kindergarten was 
organized in May, 1889 : It was incorporated in 
March, 1895. 

During its existence over 11,000 children have 
passed through its hands. These children have 
been trained and been prepared for a useful 
attendance at their respective public schools. 

That the spirit of the Abigail School reaches 
the heart and takes root there, is abundantly 
proved by the fact that the children, after leaving 
the Infant or Kindergarten establishment, are 
always anxious during their public school life to 
visit it after school hours. 

Would you not like to help on this grand work, 
and thereby enable us to maintain properly this 
particular school and to extend our influence to 
create more like it. 

A yearly contribution of $10.00 will admit you 
as a supporting member. A contribution of $25.00 
will make you an annual member. Larger dona- 
tions will be met with titles to honorary 
directorship. 

We ask you to read this carefully and consider 
it : If then you find it convenient to respond 
with your sympathy, rest assured that the same 
will be appreciated. "^^^^ A January, 1898. 

To carry on this work properly in all its branches 
we need: From $450 to $500 per month: Toys and 
Books, Hymn Books: Material for Sewing School; 
Work for our older boys and girls. Letters, 
Donation, etc., to be sent to the Superintendent. 
Please make out Checks to Abigail Free School 
and Kindergarten. ^ ^ a 



OBJECTS AND RULES. 



I. 

The object of this institution is to create in the 
hearts of the children a genuine love for Morality 
and Religion in the widest sense of the word. 
II. 
This institution guarantees the wholly unsec- 
tarian character of its work. 
III. 
The School will be made attractive to the 
children, so as to secure and to maintain their 
attendance. Their hearts and minds will be 
cultivated in a manner suited to their age. Every 
facility will also be afforded them for healthful 
recreation. IV. 

The scIiodI is intended for boys and girls. 

V. 
The age at which children may be admitted is 
from 3 to 7. VI. 

No charge of any kind will be made, and no 
remuneration will be received from those who 
partake in the benefits of the school. 
VII. 
The children will be provided with games, 
amusements, and object lessons, suited to their 
age and conditions, and calculated to accustom 
their hearts and minds to habits of industry and 
study. VIII. 

The comfort and cleanliness of the children 
will be seen to by those in charge of the insti- 
tution. IX. 

The children who attend this School will be 
provided each day with a substantial lunch. 
X. 
A record will be kept of all the children, so as 
to have an accurate account of their attendance 
and progress. XL 

A Sewing School for girls under fourteen years 
of age who attend public school, holds sessions 
twice a week. Garments made by the children 
are taken to their homes. 
XII. 
Praise Meetings, conducted by the children, 
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.30 
P. M. XIII. 

Sunday School, preparatory, is held 10.30 A. M. 
during the Summer : 3 P. M. during the Winter 
months. XIV. 

A Dispensarj^, conducted by Dr. J. E. Messen- 
ger, for the children attending the School ; open 
every Wednesday 4 PM. 
XV. 
Every week day, except Saturday, from 3 to 
4 P. M., the School is thrown open to children 
who formerly attended but now attend public 
schools; this time is spent in singing patriotic and 
religious hymns. XVI. 

The School is open 7.30 A. M : general dis- 
missal 4 P. M.: dismissal for keep-overs 6.30 P.M. 



.^^"V".^ 






^ .;*' 
























r .^\ * .r(V 



;,;i.\.'" ' *cP*Jlt;r vV " ;^-<^!^; 





























. ^ 0° '^S^ *' *^ .-^^ .^^° .-^. 






4^' 



O 



^ o 



^^ 0^^ 












o 0^ 

c5 -^^ 



.0 o^ 




,=,' ■^. 






'.:*<.•'-<>; 



.;^^' ' 



,0 c> ■> 




.O- c » ~ '• /, <?, 



o 



















^^. ^^' 




■'too 4-7-, 



"''.SiiS,"- ^^^^^ : 




^c^- o 




,^ ^/-^ ^ ; 






































* a N O ' .^^ '■^^ " * 














-it- * O N VV ^. „ ^-'- 




^>- v-^^ 



^-^z. v-^' 



^-..^^'^ 



'-.s. .,<:>■ 



•\^' '-f. ' "'.' ^S; \tJ- 

O, ■/ , X •* 






%«-'^ 

: /• 
















v^'*-". 



■?f:f^%oo V'r?^?r,'\/ v^^^^^o^ v^^'"\x^^' \^-^^o^ -., 









•^^ ■.'^'• 






^'^^. 




* v.- 



OO,, 






, ^-..,/ 









:^ ^/!^'^; % 









' .0- 













^ ,0 

v^'^ s "■ ° 






x^^ 



^^^' -'i^ 






.#■;/•' 



r^^ 






■■^. t'i 



>-^' 






, o"" -"'''« '<8o 







o 0' 



oV 



■i' -sb. 









.•^Lp^'z/c^ \' ,-^°»/- > a'5' ^'IaJ^. "^io \ * "'■„ ^ a'5^'' 



3-^ 







,.^ .0-' 
































«r'/^=^ 






**\-- 



,-0' 



,0o 



^^ "^^ V^ 












,0' ,/ "^'^ '■ * 










0^ f-^I . '-^ > 




\^ * .-fT 



t •#\ 



















\\*- 




















W 



^^.^^ 




xO°<. 



o . " >A. 












• V -:%. 



^0 



xO°^ 



A^ ,,. % ''"^"' -4^ ., <U 




,0 o 










.^^^' 



.'^" 













,-0' 



r?^' 













&^ 



> < 





























■>>> rNX 



-^.C-i- 



~'«/> ,^V 



.x\^^"^^^ ^W^WJ .3^% 



^ ^ -.S^' 




o 0^ 




^''^^-.^" ='W^:^= %/^^^^im'"'_%.xx^^' /^^A ■%^ ^M 



'th-% 



r .V 



_^^ ■^. 



x^^'^,V 



